He Wedded Again

Ere death had quite stricken the bloom from her cheek,
Or worn off the smoothness and gloss of her brow,
When our quivering lips her dear name could not speak,
And our hearts vainly strove to God's judgment to bow,
He estranged himself from us, and cheerfully then
Sought out a new object, and wedded again.
The dust had scarce settled itself on her lyre,
And its soft,melting tones still held captive the ear,
While we look'd for her fingers to glide o'er the wire,
And waited in fancy her sweet voice to hear;
He turn'd from her harp and its melody then,
Sought out a new minstrel and wedded again.
The turf had not yet by a stranger been trod,
Nor the pansy a single leaf shed on her grave,
The cypress had not taken root in the sod,
Nor the stone lost the freshness the sculptor first gave;
He turn'd from these mournful remembrances then,
Wove a new bridal chaplet, and wedded again.
His dwelling to us, O, how lonely and sad!
When we thought of the light death had stolen away,
Of the warm hearts which once in its keeping it had,
And that one was now widow'd and both in decay;
But its deep desolation had fled even then —
He sought a new idol, and wedded again.
But can she be quite blest who presides at his board?
Will no troublesome vision her happy home shade,
Of a future love luring and charming her lord,
When she with our lost one forgotten is laid?
She must know he will worship some other star then,
Seek out a new love, and be wedded again.