ORIGINAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 232, 3 December 1866, Page 3

ORIGINAL.

STANZAS (Written to Order) Addressed to a Lady, requesting a Ringlet of. her beautiful Hair. — Why- do I never pass an hour But all my thoughts recur to thee? In thy rich ringlets lies the power . By which thou hast enchanted me. I gaze upon them shining bright . And beautiful, as are thine eyes, I gaze until I lose my sight; Thy witeh'ry all within them lies. Dear lady, yes! it is by them That I'm enchanted and enchain'dj ( By them 1 feel love's 'wild'ring flame Flash through my soul, yet leave it pain'd And dark and drear; for well I know My love is hopeless as 'tis wild. What would I give if 'twere not so? How oft I wish I were a child! Although I feel each sleepless hour, What every hopeless heart must feel, And bend beneath my passion's power Till Ino longer can conceal . " The fire that in my bosom preys" And pains — save when I look on thee. Yet sleep lends me love's purest blaze, for thou, in sleep, art still with me. Thence, I would sleep my life away, And deem myself supremely blest, In dreaming thou wert night and day Reclining on my 'raptured breast. Yes ! while I saw thy image there To bless my dream, I, for the sake Of gazing on thy peerless hair, Would never more desire to wake. What's now this busy world to me, With all its scenes of good or ill ; ' My fancy ever follows thee, ! My beating heart is with the still ! The woods and mountains that ihspir'd My ardent bosom, cannot move Nor melt it now ; for I ani tired Of every earthly thing but love ! I gaze upon our evening skies, When they are charming to behold — Exuberant in all their dyes, ■ ■ From darkest dun to brightest gold ; But nature's beauties do not share, As they have done, my troubled heart : The ringlets of thy lovely hair, Alone, delight to me impart. I dare not ask thy bridal hand, Lest I evoke thy maiden scorn ; But thou dost wield another wand, To cheer my soul by passion torn : One little ringlet of thy hair, To wear upon my burning breast, Would give me bliss beyond compare, This, lady, only I request. This world, has not, that I could name, Or heart desire, I wish for more ; No ! not the poet's proudest fame — Nor sordid miser's hoarded store — Nor wreath that binds the hero's brow — Nor monarch's power, without his care .Could quench the deep desire, that thou Wilt hear my never dying pray'r For one small ringlet of thy hair, — Encased upon my breast to wear. And while the warmth of life, I have The loved remembrancer shall be, A talismanic charm, to save My heart "from future misery, Thence, lady, grant the gift I crave ; None e'er the locket loved shall see, Till lam fated to the grave : ' But Death shall not tear it from me ! For I will plead, in parting breath, Not "to~be.robb'd.of it in death.' . -"".'. W. Hogg. Nelson, N.Z., 1866. •