I, like a moth to the candle,Am chained by a glance from your eye.If I shun you, the world is in darkness;If I seek my desire, I die.I hide 'neath the wings of my fancy,I seek out my room's darkest shade;Your shining still follows me ever,Till I fly to my doom unafraid.And yet, in my seeking I shun you,In shunning I seek for love's sake;My wings will draw near you, not save me,Like a bird's 'neath the eye of a snake.Have pity; I watched from my shadowA brother's wings fall 'neath your touch.Loved you not the joy of his flitting?Or is pride's cold victory such
That you laugh as he crawls from your glances,Or dies in his pain at your feet,So hopeless, untrusting, despairing,Now hating the light that was sweet?Have pity; a hand in its kindnessOnce opened the casement to me,‘Go forth, foolish fly, for your life's sake,Go forth! in the night you are free.‘God's lamps in the Heavens are glowing,More fair is their lighting than thisThat was lit with a spark from man's fingers.Go forth! lest you die in a kiss.’The light of the stars could not reach me,The warmth of your flame on my heart,Too kind in their pity to wall me,The fingers that saved were apart.Have mercy, my life that my death is,Blind, blind to your shining I fly.If I shun you, the world is in darkness,If I seek you, God help me! I die.
That you laugh as he crawls from your glances,Or dies in his pain at your feet,So hopeless, untrusting, despairing,Now hating the light that was sweet?Have pity; a hand in its kindnessOnce opened the casement to me,‘Go forth, foolish fly, for your life's sake,Go forth! in the night you are free.‘God's lamps in the Heavens are glowing,More fair is their lighting than thisThat was lit with a spark from man's fingers.Go forth! lest you die in a kiss.’The light of the stars could not reach me,The warmth of your flame on my heart,Too kind in their pity to wall me,The fingers that saved were apart.Have mercy, my life that my death is,Blind, blind to your shining I fly.If I shun you, the world is in darkness,If I seek you, God help me! I die.
About the author
Dora Sigerson Shorter
288 works
About the poet
Dora Sigerson (1866–1918) was an Irish poet, who after her marriage in 1895 wrote under the name Dora Sigerson Shorter. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of George Sigerson, a surgeon and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary revival, publishing many collections of poetry from 1893. Her friends included Katharine Tynan, a noted Irish-born poet and author.
Her husband was Clement King Shorter, an English journalist and literary critic. They lived together in London, until her death.
and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary rev
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