colder. Thou soon shalt be forgotten by them— They’ve other things to occupy them! Just now with thee they’re playing kindly, But fortune’s wheel is turning blindly To grind thy pleasures ere thou know it— And thou art left to me, my poet!

 The Phantom Vessel

Now the last, long rays of sunset To the tree-tops are ascending, And the ash-gray evening shadows Weave themselves around the earth.

On the crest of yonder mountain, Now are seen from out the distance Slowly fading crimson traces; Footprints of the dying day.

Blood-stained banners, torn and tattered, Hanging in the western corner, Dip their parched and burning edges In the cooling ocean wave.

Smoothly roll the crystal wavelets Through the dusky veils of twilight, That are trembling down from heaven O’er the bosom of the sea.

Soft a little wind is blowing O’er the gently rippling waters— What they whisper, what they murmur, Who is wise enough to say?

Broad her snow-white sails outspreading ’Gainst the quiet sky of evening, Flies a ship without a sailor, Flies—and whither, who can tell?

As by magic moves the rudder; Borne upon her snowy pinions Flies the ship—as tho’ a spirit Drove her onward at its will!

Empty is she, and deserted, Only close beside the mainmast Stands a lonely child, heartbroken, Sobbing loud and bitterly.

Long and golden curls are falling Down his neck and o’er his shoulders; Now he glances backward sighing, And the silent ship flies on!

With a little, shining kerchief, Fluttering upon the breezes, Unto me he sends a greeting, From afar he waves farewell.

And my heart is throbbing wildly, I am weeping—tell me wherefore? God! that lovely child, I know him! ’Tis my youth that flies from me!

 To My Misery

O Misery of mine, no other In faithfulness can match with thee, Thou more than friend, and more than brother, The only thing that cares for me!

Where’er I turn, are unkind faces, And hate and treachery and guile, Thou, Mis’ry, in all times and places, Dost greet me with thy pallid smile.

At birth I found thee waiting for me, I knew thee in my cradle first, The 

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