Living

Songs without Sense: The Personified Sentimental

by Bret Harte 1836–1902

From East and West: Poems (1871): Part II

Living

Affection's charm no longer gilds
The idol of the shrine;
But cold Oblivion seeks to fill
Regret's ambrosial wine.
Though Friendship's offering buried lies
'Neath cold Aversion's snow,
Regard and Faith will ever bloom
Perpetually below.

I see thee whirl in marble halls,
In Pleasure's giddy train;
Remorse is never on that brow,
Nor Sorrow's mark of pain.
Deceit has marked thee for her own;
Inconstancy the same;
And Ruin wildly sheds its gleam
Athwart thy path of shame.

MLA

Harte, Bret. “Songs without Sense: The Personified Sentimental.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harte/33/.

Chicago

Harte, Bret. “Songs without Sense: The Personified Sentimental.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harte/33/.

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