LETTER31

letter31

charleslambtos.t.coleridge

[aboutseptember20,1797.]

writtenatwelvemonthaftertheevents

[fridaynext,coleridge,isthedayonwhichmymotherdied.]

alas!howamichanged!wherebethetears,

thesobsandforcedsuspensionsofthebreath,

andallthedulldesertionsoftheheart

withwhichihungo'ermydearmother'scorse?

wherebetheblestsubsidingsofthestorm

within;thesweetresignednessofhope

drawnheavenward,andstrengthoffiliallove,

inwhichibow'dmetomyfather'swill?

mygodandmyredeemer,keepnotthou

myheartinbruteandsensualthanklessness

seal'dup,obliviouseverofthatdeargrace,

andhealthrestor'dtomylong-lovedfriend.

longloved,andworthyknown!thoudidstnotkeep

hersoulindeath.okeepnotnow,mylord,

thyservantsinfarworse—inspiritualdeath

anddarkness—blackerthanthosefearedshadows

o'thevalleyallmusttread.lendusthybalms,

thoudearphysicianofthesin-sicksoul,

andhealourcleansedbosomsofthewounds

withwhichtheworldhathpierc'dusthro'andthro'!

giveusnewflesh,newbirth;electofheaven

maywebecome,inthineelectionsure

contain'd,andtoonepurposesteadfastdrawn—

oursouls'salvation.

thouandi,dearfriend,

withfilialrecognitionsweet,shallknow

onedaythefaceofourdearmotherinheaven,

andherremember'dlooksofloveshallgreet

withansweringlooksoflove,herplacidsmiles

meetwithasmileasplacid,andherhand

withdropsoffondnesswet,norfearrepulse.

bewitnessforme,lord,idonotask

thosedaysofvanitytoreturnagain,

(norfittingmetoask,northeetogive),

vainloves,and"wanderingswithafair-hair'dmaid;"

(childofthedustasiam),whosolong

myfoolishheartsteep'dinidolatry,

andcreature-loves.forgiveit,omymaker!

ifinamoodofgrief,isinalmost

insometimesbroodingonthedayslongpast,

(andfromthegraveoftimewishingthemback),

daysofamother'sfondnesstoherchild—

herlittleone!oh,wherebenowthosesports

andinfantplay-games?wherethejoyoustroops

ofchildren,andthehauntsididsolove?