| Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922. |
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| 147. And Then No More |
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| By James Clarence Mangan |
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| I SAW her once, one little while, and then no more: | |
| ’Twas Eden’s light on Earth a while, and then no more. | |
| Amid the throng she passed along the meadow-floor: | |
| Spring seemed to smile on Earth awhile, and then no more; | |
| But whence she came, which way she went, what garb she wore | 5 |
| I noted not; I gazed a while, and then no more! | |
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| I saw her once, one little while, and then no more: | |
| ’Twas Paradise on Earth a while, and then no more. | |
| Ah! what avail my vigils pale, my magic lore? | |
| She shone before mine eyes awhile, and then no more. | 10 |
| The shallop of my peace is wrecked on Beauty’s shore. | |
| Near Hope’s fair isle it rode awhile, and then no more! | |
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| I saw her once, one little while, and then no more: | |
| Earth looked like Heaven a little while, and then no more. | |
| Her presence thrilled and lighted to its inner core | 15 |
| My desert breast a little while, and then no more. | |
| So may, perchance, a meteor glance at midnight o’er | |
| Some ruined pile a little while, and then no more! | |
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| I saw her once, one little while, and then no more: | |
| The earth was Peri-land awhile, and then no more. | 20 |
| Oh, might I see but once again, as once before, | |
| Through chance or wile, that shape awhile, and then no more! | |
| Death soon would heal my griefs! This heart, now sad and sore, | |
| Would beat anew a little while, and then no more. | |
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