Regret.

Long ago I wished to leave     "The house where I was born;"     Long ago I used to grieve,     My home seemed so forlorn.     In other years, its silent rooms     Were filled with haunting fears;     Now, their very memory comes     O'ercharged with tender tears.     Life and marriage I have known.     Things once deemed so bright;     Now, how utterly is flown     Every ray of light!     'Mid the unknown sea, of life     I no blest isle have found;     At last, through all its wild wave's strife,     My bark is homeward bound.     Farewell, dark and rolling deep!     Farewell, foreign shore!     Open, in unclouded sweep,     Thou glorious realm before!     Yet, though I had safely pass'd     That weary, vexed main,     One loved voice, through surge and blast     Could call me back again.     Though the soul's bright morning rose     O'er Paradise for me,     William! even from Heaven's repose     I'd turn, invoked by thee!     Storm nor surge should e'er arrest     My soul, exalting then:     All my heaven was once thy breast,     Would it were mine again!