To a Wandering Female Singer

Thou hast loved and thou hast suffer’d!
Unto feeling deep and strong,
Thou hast trembled like a harp’s frail string--
I know it by thy song!

Thou hast loved--it may be vainly--
But well--oh, but too well!
Thou hast suffer’d all that woman’s breast
May bear--but must not tell.

Thou hast wept, and thou hast parted,
Thou hast been forsaken long,
Thou hast watch’d for steps that came not back--
I know it by thy song!

By the low, clear silvery gushing
Of its music from thy breast;
By the quivering of its flute-like swell--
A sound of the heart’s unrest;

By its fond and plaintive lingering
On each word of grief so long.
Oh! thou hast loved and suffer’d much--
I know it by thy song!