The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelleyby Percy Bysshe Shelley

The Past

On a Faded Violet

To Mary —

Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.

O Mary dear, that you were here
With your brown eyes bright and clear.
And your sweet voice, like a bird
Singing love to its lone mate
In the ivy bower disconsolate; 
Voice the sweetest ever heard!
And your brow more...
Than the ... sky
Of this azure Italy.
Mary dear, come to me soon, 
I am not well whilst thou art far;
As sunset to the sphered moon,
As twilight to the western star,
Thou, beloved, art to me.

O Mary dear, that you were here; 
The Castle echo whispers 'Here!'

Contents

The Past

On a Faded Violet