How Clear She Shines by Emily Bronte

How Clear She Shines was published by Emily Bronte under the pseudonym, Ellis Bell. Featured in the poetry collection with her sisters, Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, originally published in 1846 at the Bronte’s expense.

How clear she shines! How quietly
I lie beneath her guardian light;
While heaven and earth are whispering me,
“To morrow, wake, but dream to-night.”
Yes, Fancy, come, my Fairy love!
These throbbing temples softly kiss;
And bend my lonely couch above,
And bring me rest, and bring me bliss.

 The world is going; dark world, adieu!
 Grim world, conceal thee till the day;
 The heart thou canst not all subdue
 Must still resist, if thou delay!

 Thy love I will not, will not share;
 Thy hatred only wakes a smile;
 Thy griefs may wound—thy wrongs may tear,
 But, oh, thy lies shall ne'er beguile!
 While gazing on the stars that glow
 Above me, in that stormless sea,
 I long to hope that all the woe
 Creation knows, is held in thee!

 And this shall be my dream to-night;
 I'll think the heaven of glorious spheres
 Is rolling on its course of light
 In endless bliss, through endless years;
 I'll think, there's not one world above,
 Far as these straining eyes can see,
 Where Wisdom ever laughed at Love,
 Or Virtue crouched to Infamy;

 Where, writhing 'neath the strokes of Fate,
 The mangled wretch was forced to smile;
 To match his patience 'gainst her hate,
 His heart rebellious all the while.
 Where Pleasure still will lead to wrong,
 And helpless Reason warn in vain;
 And Truth is weak, and Treachery strong;
 And Joy the surest path to Pain;
 And Peace, the lethargy of Grief;
 And Hope, a phantom of the soul;
 And life, a labour, void and brief;
 And Death, the despot of the whole!