Look and List, Love

LIST, love, oh listen as the breezeGoes softly floating by,And to thine ear 'twill sweetly breatheMy young hearths tenderest sigh;And if that breeze hath passed o'er crushedAnd withered flowers, 'twill tell,In saddened cadence, of the griefsThat in my bosom dwell.List, love.

List to the music of the stream,The far-off waterfall,And in its low tones thou wilt hearMy spirit's earnest callTo thine, to meet me at the softAnd blessed twilight hour,Where we so oft have loved to meetIn our own wildwood bower.List, love.

Look on the glorious hues that waveAlong the sunset sky,Like heavenly banners o'er the hostsOf angels trooping by,And thou'lt see my spirit thereSoft beckoning unto thine,To join me in that fairy realm,And be for ever mine.Look, love.

Look on the cloudless heavens that rollSo beautiful and fair,And think of all our earnest vowsThat have their record there.And see! the priest of Nature nowSeems bending from above,With his own gentle hand to setThe signet of our love.Look, love.

List to the murmurs sweet and wildThat from the ocean swell,Like the mysterious melodiesHeard in its music-shell;And they will speak of memoriesThat in our bosoms sleep,Unseen and beautiful, like pearlsWithin the sea's blue deep.List, love.

List to the spirit-minstrelsyThat steals from yon bright stars,As in their watch of love they floatHigh on their golden cars;And they will tell thee that the loveTo our young splints given,Like theirs, shines sweetly on the earthBut has its home in heaven.List, love.

Look, at our own dear hour of tryst,Upon the passion-flower,I culled and laid upon thy heartIn our own favorite boner;And if thou lov'st me dearly still,Thy gentle eye will traceThe blessed story of our lovesUpon its pale, sweet face.Look, love.

Oh! look and listen at the calmAnd holy midnight hour,When love's deep charm o'er human soulsHath strong and mystic power;And thou wilt see my spirit standBeside thee where thou art,And hear it breathe love's burning wordsInto thine ear and heart.Look and list, love.

Louisville, Ky., 1852.