STANZAS.[19]

[Footnote 19:  Hood’s last verses.  They appeared in his Magazine in February 1845, and were thus probably composed during the previous month.  In the original collection of Hood’s serious poems, published after his death, they were wrongly assigned to the April of this year.  Hood died on the third of May.]

Farewell, Life!  My senses swim,
And the world is growing dim;
Thronging shadows cloud the light,
Like the advent of the night,—­
Colder, colder, colder still,
Upward steals a vapor chill—­
Strong the earthy odor grows—­
I smell the mould above the rose!

Welcome, Life! the Spirit strives! 
Strength returns, and hope revives;
Cloudy fears and shapes forlorn
Fly like shadows at the morn,—­
O’er the earth there comes a bloom—­
Sunny light for sullen gloom,
Warm perfume for vapor cold—­
smell the rose above the mould!

February 1845.

ODE TO MR. GRAHAM,[20]

THE AERONAUT.

   “Up with me!—­up with me into the sky!”
                    WORDSWORTH—­on a Lark.

[Footnote 20:  In Hood’s day Mr. Graham was one of a group of distinguished aeronauts which included Monck Mason, Hollond, Green, and others.  Mr. Graham had made a memorable ascent in his Balloon in 1823.]

I.

Dear Graham, whilst the busy crowd,
The vain, the wealthy, and the proud,
  Their meaner flights pursue,
Let us cast off the foolish ties
That bind us to the earth, and rise
  And take a bird’s-eye view!—­

II.

A few more whiffs of my segar
And then, in Fancy’s airy car,
  Have with thee for the skies:—­
How oft this fragrant smoke upcurl’d
Hath borne me from this little world,
  And all that in it lies!—­

III.

Away!—­away!—­the bubble fills—­
Farewell to earth and all its hills!—­
  We seem to cut the wind!—­
So high we mount, so swift we go,
The chimney tops are far below,
  The Eagle’s left behind!—­

IV.

Ah me! my brain begins to swim!—­
The world is growing rather dim;
  The steeples and the trees—­
My wife is getting very small! 
I cannot see my babe at all!—­
  The Dollond, if you please!—­

V.

Do, Graham, let me have a quiz;
Lord! what a Lilliput it is. 
  That little world of Mogg’s!—­
Are those the London Docks?—­that channel,
The mighty Thames?—­a proper kennel
  For that small Isle of Dogs!—­

VI.