Collected Poems of Henry Derozio: Preface by Manu Samriti Chander; Edited by Amardeep Singh

Fakeer of Jungheera 2.4

The last note lingered on the ear 
As if from thence 'twere loath to part, 
Like memories of the one most dear 
Still fondly clinging to the heart. 
At last it fell, they heard it not: 
It died so like a spirit's sigh 
That Echo's faithful self forgot 
To make her farewell, faint reply.— 
And see a minstrel now appears 
Familiar quite with griefs and tears. 
Although his gifted eye hath shone 
But few short years the world upon 
So many turns of fate to know— 
That eye is eloquent of woe! 
Alas! alas! the poet's doom— 
O! say not that his doom is bright— 
His heart's a taper in a tomb 
Flinging around sepulchral light: 
The proud, the cold, the careless eye, 
That will not fix on genius high, 
Has power the minstrel's pangs to wake, 
And his enthusiast spirit break— 
Then deem him not by fortune blest, 
Child of the bleeding heart and breast. 
The bard all meekly bent his brow, 
Then o'er the keys of memory ran 
To try if they were faithful now— 
Then bowed again, and thus began.— 

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