Where my spirit finds a glorious home, "The colours pass not from these away, Oh! beyond all treasures that know decay, "A rich light thence o'er my life's decline, An inborn light is cast; For the sake of the palm from the holy shrine, I bewail not my bright days past! THE CHILD'S FIRST GRIEF. "OH! call my brother back to me! The Summer comes with flower and bee- "The butterfly is glancing bright Across the sunbeam's track; "The flowers run wild-the flowers we sow'd Around our garden tree; Our vine is drooping with its load Oh! call him back to me!" TO THE NEW-BORN. "He would not hear thy voice, fair child, The face that once like Spring-time smiled, "A rose's brief bright life of joy, "And has he left his birds and flowers; And must I call in vain? And through the long, long summer hours, "And by the brook and in the glade Oh! while my brother with me play'd, 195 TO THE NEW-BORN.* A BLESSING on thy head, thou child of many hopes and fears! A rainbow-welcome thine hath been, of mingled smiles and tears. Thy father greets thee unto life, with a full and chasten'd heart, For a solemn gift from God thou com'st, all precious as thou art! * Addressed to the child of her eldest brother. I see thee not asleep, fair boy, upon thy mother's breast, Yet well I know how guarded there shall be thy rosy rest; And how her soul with love, and prayer, and gladness, will o'erflow, While bending o'er thy soft-seal'd eyes, thou dear one, well I know! A blessing on thy gentle head! and bless'd thou art in truth, For a home where God is felt, awaits thy childhood and thy youth: Around thee pure and holy thoughts shall dwell as light and air, And steal unto thine heart, and wake the germs now folded there. Smile on thy mother! while she feels that unto her is given, In that young day-spring glance the pledge of a soul to rear for heaven! Smile! and sweet peace be o'er thy sleep, joy o'er thy wakening shed! Blessings and blessings evermore, fair boy! upon thy head! THE DEATH-SONG OF ALCESTIS. 197 THE DEATH-SONG OF ALCESTIS. SHE came forth in her bridal robes array'd, Of its unutterable tenderness, Had burden'd her full soul. But now, oh! now, Of its immortal voice, in triumph broke, The soft pure air Came floating through that hall-the Grecian air, That own'd the summer loveliness of life Borne on the battling waves of love and death, "I go, go! Thou sun, thou golden sun, I go Far from thy light to dwell: Thou shalt not find my place below, Dim is that world-bright sun of Greece, farewell! "The laurel and the glorious rose But where no purple summer glows, O'er the dark wave I haste from them and thee. "Yet doth my spirit faint to part? Sing me triumphal songs!—my crown is won! "Let not a voice of weeping rise— My heart is girt with power! Let the green earth and festal skies Laugh, as to grace a conqueror's closing hour! |