Love
Come Back, Ye Smiles, That Late Forsook
From Works and Life, ed. Forster, vol. VIII (1876)
Come back, ye Smiles, that late forsook
Each breezy path and ferny nook.
Come Laughter, though the Sage hath said
Thou favourest most the thoughtless head:
I blame thee not, howe'er inclin'd
To love the vacant easy mind,
But now am ready, may it please,
That mine be vacant and at ease.
Sweet children of celestial breed,
Be ruled by me; repress your speed.
Laughter! though Momus gave thee birth,
And said, My darling, stay on earth!
Smiles! though from Venus you arise,
And live for ever in the skies,
Softly! and let not one descend
But first alights upon my friend.
When one upon her cheek appears,
A thousand spring to life from hers;
Death smites his disappointed urn,
And spirit, pleasure, wit, return.
Cite this poem
MLA
Landor, Walter Savage. “Come Back, Ye Smiles, That Late Forsook.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/landor/284/.
Chicago
Landor, Walter Savage. “Come Back, Ye Smiles, That Late Forsook.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/landor/284/.
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