Close By Poem by Emily Pauline Johnson
Close By
So near at hand (our eyes o'erlooked its nearness
In search of distant things)
A dear dream lay--perchance to grow in dearness
Had we but felt its wings
Astir. The air our very breathing fanned
It was so near at hand.
Once, many days ago, we almost held it,
The love we so desired;
But our shut eyes saw not, and fate dispelled it
Before our pulses fired
To flame, and errant fortune bade us stand
Hand almost touching hand.
I sometimes think had we two been discerning,
The by-path hid away
From others' eyes had then revealed its turning
To us, nor led astray
Our footsteps, guiding us into love's land
That lay so near at hand.
So near at hand, dear heart, could we have known it!
Throughout those dreamy hours,
Had either loved, or loving had we shown it,
Response had sure been ours;
We did not know that heart could heart command,
And love so near at hand!
What then availed the red wine's subtle glisten?
We passed it blindly by,
And now what profit that we wait and listen
Each for the other's heart beat? Ah! the cry
Of love o'erlooked still lingers, you and I
Sought heaven afar, we did not understand
'Twas--once so near at hand.
ITS BEAUTIFUL..................................................
The poetess regrets of things occurred, and so closeby, but her family did not know, so they do not take that, the poetess had overthought these situations and created this and other poems. In all her poems, the life line she followed or was in, we can read that, in a way she was regretting those situations. I am thankful to PH poem site enables me to read this poem and thus come to know about the historical background. Congratulations CPOTD
'Of love o'erlooked still lingers, you and I Sought heaven afar, we did not understand 'Twas- once so near at hand.' - Loved these sublime thoughts that the poem ends with.
So near at hand, well indication phrase, thanks for sharing
I definitely relate to ache in this poem of what might have been. For me, though, I’m content with what was and is the way my life and love have taken me. -GK
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/16/2024 5:29:48 PM # 1.0.0.1119
a truly nice and intriguing piece of work.definitely one not to forget in an hurry