Ellen Poem by Albert Pike

We parted in the Spring,
When the flowers were all in bloom,
When the air was loaded with perfume,
And birds were on the wing:
Fondly the dear girl I caressed;
To her fair brow my lips I pressed,
Clasping her closely to my breast,
Then turned my sad eyes to the West,
And left my darling Ellen.

We parted at the spring,
Where first she told her love,
The thick stars shining bright above,
The waters murmuring.
We were so poor we could not wed,
Lest we and ours should want for bread;
And so my humble sail I spread,
And westward turned my shallop's head,
To work, and win my Ellen.

She was a young thing then;
Her bright eyes filled with tears:
Her bosom, then disturbed with fears,
Shall bound with joy again.
At last, my long probation's done;
Four weary years their course have run,
And, fame and fortune earned and won,
I come to my beloved one,
My true love, my sweet Ellen.

Ho, Soldan! Ho, good steed!
This is the last day's ride:
Bear me but safe to Ellen's side,
And thou shalt rest indeed;
When, smiling through a rain of tears,
She pours in my enraptured ears
Her tale of many hopes and fears,
That haunted her for four long years,—
My fond, my faithful Ellen.

Then, parted nevermore,
Our life shall calmly glide,
Like a clear river's tranquil tide
Along a grassy shore;
Or, if there come some carking care
Between us we'll the burden share,
Making it easier to bear:—
Ho, Soldan! we are almost there!
Speed on to my sweet Ellen!