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 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 ,^U^"TED STATES OF AMERICA. | 
 
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 I ALBERT G. GREENE, 
 
 DHrAKTMEXJ 
 
 AMERICAN POETRY & PLAYS. 
 
 rurchaseil at the sale of the Library of 
 
 Kev. Rufns W. Giiswold, D. D. 1 
 
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ASPHODELS. 
 
 SARAH GOULD 
 
 " I love not less 
 Earth's loveliest bloom — wood-Iiaiintinjj lily-bells, 
 
 Daisy or violet — for all loveliness 
 Of these I bring, — my fading Asphodels, 
 
 Plucked on the hills of Immortality! 
 But, dear memorials of faint-pulsed dreams. 
 Fields never sere, and amber-paven streams, 
 
 And angels leaning from their opal sky 
 With your still dewy sweets, — 
 
 I clasp you, though ye die 1" 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 PROOF-SHEETS 
 
 1856. 
 
75 IV"^ 
 
 .fi^ 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Confess, in the j'ear 1S56, by 
 
 SARAH GOULD, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Die Southern District of 
 
 New York. 
 
 THOMAS B. SMITH, 
 STEREOTTPER AWD ELECTROTTPBR, 
 
 82 484BeekmanSt., N. Y. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 It is pleasant to do good in however humble 
 a sphere ; to lighten, if but a little, the heavy- 
 burden which weighs on human hearts ; and touch 
 the pained bosom of the sufterer with even the 
 least potent hand of healing. 
 
 The Poems here introduced are the sponta- 
 neous effusions of the heart ; and appealing ra- 
 ther to the heart, than to the critical intellect, 
 they come from the half-privacy of the friendly 
 circle, to select, by sympathy, a broader circle of 
 friends, which, retaining something of the sancti- 
 ty of the personal relation, will be but a broader 
 privacy. 
 
 That this new circle will be neither a cold, 
 nor a narrow one, the present writer may be per- 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 mitted to express liis confidence. These Poems 
 come with the musical utterance of what is deep- 
 est, and dearest in human hearts ; bringing words 
 of faith, and love, and cheer ; of life, and im- 
 mortahty. They seem consecrated, as by the bap- 
 tismal hands of Elect Souls in Heaven, to the 
 warm love of man, to the deep love of God. 
 
 Throughout the whole collection, it will be 
 found that a keen, appreciative, admiration of 
 the grand and beautiful in visible nature, is sub- 
 ordinated to the higher purposes of the moral, 
 and spiritual nature. All the objects of sense 
 are, constantly, transmuted, as by a magical touch, 
 into images of the soul, and made to speak a 
 language greater than they knew. 
 
 The peculiar condition under which these Poems 
 have had their origin, will cxj)lain, at once, their 
 high spiritual stand-point, and the necessity for 
 the rather delicate office which devolves upon this 
 writer. 
 
 They are — with the slight exception of some five- 
 and-forty lines, — strictly, and absolutely, Trance- 
 Improvisations, produced at the instant of uttering, 
 and uttered in a state of essential unconscious- 
 ness to outward objects. All that this uncon- 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 scioiisness fails of being complete, is apparent in 
 the fact that outward disturbances destroy the 
 integrity of the spiritual image, into which they 
 are often adopted, without however, leaving any 
 indications of their character, in the broken reflec- 
 tion they produce. It is as if a pebble dropped 
 in a clear pool, should disturb the mirrored beauty 
 of a child's delighted face, while the waters gave 
 no image of the disturbing cause. 
 
 Of the nature of this Trance, and the.. .i^jiDsyn.-. 
 crasies of its subject,- the reader will find, among 
 the Notes appended to this^oliiaie, a^keeiL aur 
 alysisj excellent for its intria^C' truthfulness and 
 beauty ; and peculiarly interesting^ to man^, as. 
 coming from the departed -spirit of an acut^-asholar,- 
 a close- observer of human nature, and a lovely 
 Wmi. 
 
 It has been the privilege of the present writer, 
 to witness the creation of many of the Poems, 
 here offered to the public, and under the most 
 favorable circumstances to test the genuineness 
 of the improvisation ; a test not unimportant ; 
 for, while no one in the least acquainted with 
 their author, could doubt the spontaneity of their 
 productiori, others might suppose that in the very 
 
VI* PREFACE. 
 
 unconsciousness which is claimed for her, there 
 is ground for doubt whether thej'- may not be 
 mere recitations of premeditated poems. 
 
 While their author is in that state of deep ab- 
 straction from which the poems are given, one, 
 not immediately en rapioort with her, may quietly 
 come and go, unnoticed ; and entire strangers may 
 be introduced, brought into communication, and 
 withdrawn, without leaving any trace upon her 
 waking recollection. To such she has often given, 
 in strains of a high order of poetry, the inmost se- 
 crets of their hearts, and the vailed history of 
 their lives, of a nature too purely private to ap- 
 pear in this collection. 
 
 One word concerning the question of Original- 
 ity, before we make our bow, and leave the reader 
 to better company. The impressions, here pro- 
 duced as expressions, are, seemingly, the result of 
 actual vision ; sometimes claiming a direct spirit- 
 ual influence. The spirit in communication is, 
 then, described as presenting symbols, whose riglit 
 interpretation, and rendering into current Eng- 
 lish, depend entirely upon the seer. It seems to 
 be the vagueness of the poetical faculty elevated 
 to the distinctness of actual sight. 
 
P R PJ F A C E . VU 
 
 The language, rhythm, structure, and entire ma- 
 chinery of the expression, are as completely the 
 speaker's, as in the case of any author ; and the 
 ideas themselves, if ever pre-existent in the mind 
 of another, and presented by a definite intention, 
 are so presented through objects of the natural 
 sense, symbols never preconcerted, that it de- 
 mands as keen a perception to catch the mean- 
 ing, as that by which ordinary poetry is made to 
 interpret nature to the common mind. While 
 with that there is left the broadest latitude of 
 interpretation, with this peculiar inspiration the 
 seer must seek a definite moral. 
 
 To judge f]-om the examples which have come 
 under the observation of this writer, it appears 
 to him, that the process, in the production of 
 these poems, is precisely analogous to the pro- 
 duction of mental images, from sensible objects 
 in the ordinary operations of the mind ; with the 
 difference of facility resulting from the abnormal 
 condition. 
 
 These observations are made neither to excite 
 astonishment, nor to deprecate criticism, but to 
 put the reader in possession of the stand-point 
 from which the Poems were given, and can best 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 be understood. They must stand, or fall, on their 
 own merits as works of art, as emanations from 
 the great Soul of Beauty and Love. 
 
 a. s. B. 
 
 \ 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ■ MINISTRATIONS 13 
 
 PROPHETIC GLIMPSES 16 
 
 THE TWIN ANGELS 19 
 
 RESTORATION 22 
 
 ■THERE REMAINETH A REST TO THE PEOPLE OP GOD 24 
 
 HEART-RICH 2t 
 
 A LIFE SYMBOL 29 
 
 • FREED 33 
 
 . AN ECSTASY 34 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS 3*7 
 
 CANZONETTA. TO LITTLE FLOY 40 
 
 TEMPEST TOSSED 42 
 
 THE LOVE CIRCLE 45 
 
 THE RIVULET 50 
 
 RECOGNITION 54 
 
 LIGHT IN DARKNESS 56 
 
 INFANT REMINISCENCE , 61 
 
 HEAVENLY PEACE C3 
 
 SARAH HELEN WHITMAN 65 
 
 UNCHANGED 68 
 
 IRENE 69 
 
 THE LIFTED VAIL "72 
 
 ■ CROSS AND CROWN 75 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 PACE 
 
 IIUJIAX LOTE 78 
 
 THE DARK RIVER 79 
 
 THE BRIGHT RIVER 83 
 
 THE VIOLET 88 
 
 LATENT JOY 8D 
 
 THE OAK 93 
 
 ■ THE COXSECRATION 95 
 
 AVE MARIA 105 
 
 TO* LOTTIE 107 
 
 THE PROMISE 110 
 
 RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS 112 
 
 THE DIFFERENCE 115 
 
 FLOWER FAYS 116 
 
 REVERIE 122 
 
 RUTH 124 
 
 CLARE AND LILLIE 125 
 
 SONG OF THE CHILDREN 130 
 
 TO GEORGE SUEPARD BURLEIGH 135 
 
 LIFE'S MYSTERY 140 
 
 THE JOY OF ACTION 143 
 
 love's IMMORTALITY 143 
 
 THY MOTHER. .,...., 151 
 
 INVOCATION ,.......,, 154 
 
 SERPENT HORROR. 157 
 
 AN ADMONITION . , 164 
 
 SALUTATION AND CHEER , , 166 
 
 PROFESSOR , 168 
 
 FORESHADOWINGS 172 
 
 RIVAL CLAIMS 176 
 
 SUPPLICATION. TO LIZZIE 179 
 
 THE HEALING GIFT 180 
 
 TO G. S. B 184. 
 
 NELL : 185 
 
 SPIRIT mother's prayer 189 
 
 THE VISION 192 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 PAGK 
 
 THE NEW REVELATION 199 
 
 SECRET WORTH 200 
 
 THE DEAD BABY 201 
 
 VIRGIN ISLAND 205 
 
 PHANTASY 207 
 
 LITTLE MOSS ROSE 212 
 
 HELPING HANDS 213 
 
 PAULINE 215 
 
 THE JEWELED HEAVENS 216 
 
 A. K. F. 1 219 
 
 A. K. F. II 220 
 
 RECONCILIATION 221 
 
 RENUNCIATION 224 
 
 NOTES 229 
 
MINISTRATIONS. 
 
 There are forms of beauty, bending, 
 Ever bending o'er your way ; 
 And they scatter blessings roimd you, 
 As the night distills its dew ; 
 And their presence lights your spirits. 
 As the sunshine lights the day ; 
 And no cloud of sorrow rises, 
 
 But their soft eyes twuikle through ! 
 
 There are angels bright, who Ungcr, 
 Ever linger by your side ; 
 Ever watching, ever waiting, — 
 Only watchmg for your good; 
 With their white arms stretched protectingly, 
 If evil should betide, 
 Nourishing your hungry spirits. 
 With their own ambrosial food. 
 
14 MINISTEATIONS. 
 
 In the noon-day there are voices, 
 Voices in the noon of night, 
 Which are whispering, of heaven, 
 Words of glory and of joy; 
 Oh, then listen, closely listen ! 
 
 They will thrill you with delight, — 
 Stories of their blissfulness, 
 Of a bUss without aUoy. 
 
 There are touches Avhich are thrilling. 
 Thrilling with a power intense. 
 Through the inmost depths of feeling, 
 Till ye know the hand that blesses. 
 As a holy consecration, is 
 Baptizing every sense, 
 In the sweet, and sacred influence 
 Of their heavenly caresses. 
 
 There are most ecstatic visions, 
 
 Visions that like starbeams come; 
 While the tones of the departed 
 Waken holiest memories, — 
 Till there comes a childlike yearning 
 For your spirit's cherished home. 
 In the Father's blessed presence. 
 In the bowers of Paradise. 
 
MINISTRATIONS. 15 
 
 There are heavenly revelations, 
 Revelations pure, and high. 
 That will flash athwart the spirit, 
 As the lightning's fiery darts. 
 Giving glimpses of the glory 
 
 Flashing on the inward eye. 
 Till a hallowed sense of blessedness 
 Comes conquering your hearts. 
 
PROPHETIC GLIMPSES. 
 
 A LIGHT upon my spiiit gleams, 
 A light I rather feel than see ; 
 
 It comes as come exalted dreams 
 In hours of hoUest ecstasy. 
 
 And deep within my inmost soul, 
 While aU my waiting senses kneel, 
 
 High glories to my view unroU, 
 That language fails me to reveal. 
 
 A meaning strange and sweet I see 
 In every thing, above, around, 
 
 Or in the haze of mystery, 
 
 Or beings simple, or profound ; 
 
 The music of the gurgling riU, 
 By careless souls not understood ; 
 
 The incense-cups the flowers fill 
 With stories of the quiet wood ; 
 
PKOPHETIC GLIMPSES. 17 
 
 In twilight's mellow distances, 
 
 The momentary hush of noon, 
 In midnight's mute solemnities, 
 
 And morn's exhilarating tune; 
 
 The pattering feet of dancmg rain, 
 
 Mysterious voices of the wind, 
 In the deep ocean's solemn strain, 
 
 And deeper ocean of the mind. 
 
 As here thy spirit hand I hold. 
 
 Thy fleshly robes are drawn away, 
 
 I see thy inner form unfold, 
 
 From aU the windings of its clay. 
 
 I see it scarred with wrong, and strife ; 
 
 Malice hath grazed it with her wand. 
 And the fell foes of truest life, 
 
 In frowning aspect, round it stand. 
 
 Oh, heed them not, the senseless horde 
 Who track thee on thy lofty way, 
 
 "Whose blackening thought, and act, and word, 
 "Would stain the very heart of day. 
 
18 - PROPHETIC GLIMPSES. 
 
 Oh, listen to the stram I hear ! 
 
 It comes, loud swelling, once again, 
 And breaks npon my ravished ear, 
 
 A conquering, a \ictorious strain I 
 
 Mark the high triumph of the song, 
 Now home so sweetly on the gale ; 
 
 Ah, never more can False, and Wrong, 
 Over the True, and Right, prevail. 
 
 Then calmly front the cloud, and storm, 
 And work thy work with patient will. 
 
 Faith, Hope, and Love, thy heart shaU warm. 
 And their own prophecies fulfill. 
 
THE TWIN ANGELS. 
 
 Oh, a little blue-eyed angel 
 Bending from the calm serene, 
 
 Seems she like a sweet Evangel, 
 With her gentle look and mien. 
 
 Flaxen are her flomng tresses, 
 SUvery in the sheeny hght, 
 
 Not an angel looks, but blesses 
 
 This young seraph, heavenly bright. 
 
 There 's another bud of sweetness 
 Hanging just above us now, 
 
 Oh, how rich in their completeness 
 Are her radiant cheek and brow ! 
 
 Ringlets ebon black, and glossy, 
 Fall her slender waist below, 
 
 As a gauzy mantle flossy, 
 Wavmg ever to and fro. 
 
20 THE TWIN ANGELS. 
 
 And her eyes flasli vibratory 
 
 Blackness, like a midnight storm, 
 
 Yet pervaded by a glory 
 That irradiates her form. 
 
 Arms of argent they are twining, 
 Laughing as if full of glee ; 
 
 And I inly muse, divining 
 
 Who this younger one may be. 
 
 Lo, she bends to me with kisses 
 From those lips of ruddy hue; 
 
 They 're our darling little Lizzie's, 
 Sweet as morn, with song and dew ! 
 
 Oh, the rapture of their singing ! 
 
 I can almost catch the rhyme. 
 All the while their white arms flinging 
 
 Here and there, in keeping time. 
 
 "Weaving, now, the gayest dances 
 With the countless cherubs there ; 
 
 In their whirls it often chances 
 Lizzie's rin filets frolic where 
 
T n K T W I N A N G E L S . 21 
 
 Lydia's silken locks are flowing, — 
 
 As a cloudlet, pearly white. 
 Where the twilight shades are growing. 
 
 Still retains the sun's soft light. 
 
 Thus, in all their infant features, 
 
 Married differences shine, 
 But so perfect are their natures, 
 
 So entirely intert\vme. 
 
 In a graceful harmoni2dng. 
 
 That their blended spirits seem 
 As two stars, that, in their rising, 
 
 Twinkle with the self-same gleam. 
 
RESTORATION, 
 
 We grope through the dark, 
 And shrink in dismay, 
 
 From the phantom-eyes stark, 
 That glare out on our way : 
 
 And Ave tremble, vnih fear, 
 At our own spirit's tread, 
 
 Clinging fast to some dear 
 Hope, Aothered and dead ; 
 
 Which, nathless, Avould hold us 
 
 In fealty still. 
 Ever seeking to fold us 
 
 Firm boimd to its will : 
 
 Till we catch the low tone 
 Of a Voice that is clear ; 
 
 And the distant Unknown 
 Is a huninous Here, 
 
RESTORATION. 23 
 
 Which kindles our feelings, 
 
 And quickens our sight, 
 With glorious revealings 
 
 Of beauty, and light. 
 
 And in that awakmg, 
 
 We feel the rebound 
 From our soul-leap in taking 
 
 A measure j^rofound 
 
 Of the chaos, inclosing 
 
 Our innermost sense, 
 As Islands reposmg 
 
 Mid ocean's Immense. 
 
 And, born into duty. 
 
 We -walk the new road, 
 Through labor to Beauty, 
 
 Through Beauty to God ; 
 
 The phantoms of terror 
 
 Fall stricken, and stark, 
 And Truth pierces Error, 
 
 Light pierces the Dark. 
 
THERE REMAINETH A REST 
 
 TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD. 
 
 Sweet promise ! the bruised and the sad ones of earth, 
 Who are sorrowing under affliction's hard rod, 
 
 This thought — oh, their bosoms may best know its 
 Avorth ; 
 " There remameth a rest to the people of God !'' 
 
 Then cheer up, ye mourners, your tears wipe away, 
 And Uft your sad eyes to that bUssful abode ; 
 
 Though the fruitage of joy, upon earth, may decay, 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 Tired pilgrim ! oppressed and o'erladen with care, 
 Who art toiling in sorrow o'er life's weary road, 
 
 Take courage, press on, never yield to despair ; 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
THERE REMAINETH A REST. 25 
 
 And you, wlio in sorrow and suftering pine, 
 
 On couches of sickness ; though anguish corrode, 
 
 Let joy with your sorrow supremely combine, 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 Thou mother, who mournest, almost in despair, 
 
 Thy daughter, thy darling, consigned to the shroud, 
 
 Oh, yield not to trouble, take refuge in prayer ; 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 Surrender thy gi-ief to a chastened delight, 
 
 That o'er her j^ure spirit there comes not a cloud. 
 
 Of sin, or of sorrow, to tarnish its light, 
 
 Where " remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 She moves in white raiment, immortal and fair, 
 
 And though in deep shadow now seems your abode, — 
 
 Her sunlight departed, oh think of her, where 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 And there thou shalt meet her, and share her embrace, 
 With spirits perfected in beauty, and good ; 
 
 Oh, rapture transporting ! oh, infinite Grace ! 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
26 THERK REMAINETH A REST. 
 
 Thou servant of Christ ! who hast faithfully borne 
 The yoke of thy Master, thy weary life-load, 
 
 Remember, though now a sad victim of scorn, 
 " There remaineth a rest to the people of God !" 
 
 Oh, delectable rest ! most holy, secure, 
 To mingle for aye, in that happy abode. 
 
 With those we have loved, mth the good, and the pure, 
 This rest, holy rest, " for the people of God !» 
 
HEART-RICH. 
 
 Thy love, how rich m its excess, 
 How fervent, and how manifold ; 
 
 Thy overflowmg tenderness. 
 
 And sympathetic wealth untold ! 
 
 Blest spirits from the higher sphere 
 Bend lovingly, thy pathway o'er ; 
 
 Angels of beauty linger near. 
 
 Their blessings on thy head to pour. 
 
 Think what a privilege it is, 
 
 A life so roseate as thine, 
 A treasury of sweetest bliss. 
 
 The largess of a love divuie. 
 
 I count thy treasures, so rej)lcte 
 
 With all that could delight, or bless. 
 
 And, lady ! I can but repeat. 
 Thy Ufe should be a blessedness ! 
 
HEAR T-R I C H. 
 
 In all thy liueaments I trace 
 
 A gentle nature, undefiled 
 By the rude storms, that oft efface 
 
 The attributes of Love's sweet child. 
 
 Then, in thy very sweetness strong, 
 Securely may thy soul rejoice, 
 
 And living gladness swell the song 
 To which thy spirit finds a voice. 
 
A LIFE SYMBOL. 
 
 Like some mighty river flowing 
 
 Onward to the ocean bhie, 
 In the sunshine brightly glowing, 
 
 Gleams thy spirit on my view. 
 Backward, I its course can follow 
 
 To the fountain whence it sprung. 
 In a quiet woodland hollow, 
 
 AYhere the Fays and Dryads sung. 
 
 Oh, how tranquil and how quiet 
 
 Was this sheltered little nook ! 
 Seemed forever lingering by it, 
 
 Joys, that brightest coloring took. 
 Wide its wealth of waters spreading 
 
 To the sun's benignant smile, 
 Would it linger, softly shedding, 
 
 Light for lent light, back the while. 
 
30 
 
 Darksome bank, and rock-ledge curbed it, 
 
 Even in its earliest flow, 
 And rude rapids oft disturbed it, 
 
 Through its depths and windings low. 
 Still forever faster, brighter, 
 
 Sped it on its deep'ning way ; 
 Even the nightly dark grew lighter 
 
 "With clear promises of day. 
 
 Rose at length a towering mountain 
 
 Full before the gentle stream ; 
 Backward, to its prunal fountain, 
 
 Turned it, with a saddened gleam. 
 Then the darkness, and the sadness. 
 
 Chilled its young activities. 
 Tempered all its gushing gladness, 
 
 With the taint of sorrow's lees. 
 
 Still it might not linger, listless, 
 
 Even in its native glen; 
 Flowing, but no more resistless, 
 
 Stole it on, and on again ; 
 But in spite of green hopes, blighted. 
 
 And a young heart's cherished schemes, 
 Floating darkly, save when guided 
 
 By the lurid lightning's gleams. 
 
A LIFE SYMBOL. 31 
 
 Yet to those who well can render 
 
 The dim riddle of thy hfe, 
 Lui-ks the strength of manhood, under 
 
 Stagnant calm, and stormy strife. 
 Starry thoughts out-twinkle keenly 
 
 On the skj^-arch of thy night, 
 And the moon, with luster queenly, 
 
 Walks in Feeling's softer Ught. 
 
 But the chilly night is ending ; 
 
 Swiftly comes the ruddy morn ; 
 Swifter is thy life-stream, tending 
 
 To its destined ocean-bourn. 
 On the hills, already, twitter 
 
 Heralds of approaching day, 
 And the curls of morning glitter. 
 
 Where the curtaining dark gives way. 
 
 Then, oh then, be strong and fearless ! 
 
 Mid thy fellows walk more bold ; 
 For, before thy spirit peerless. 
 
 Open glories manifold. 
 In the path of noblest duty 
 
 Walk thou, with a manly tread ; 
 And the true life's hoUest beauty 
 
 Shall a glory on thee shed. 
 
32 ALIFESYMBO-L. 
 
 Lesser souls shall catch the assurance, 
 
 Then, that crowns thy life with bliss, 
 It will strengthen their endurance, 
 
 Climbing crag, and precipice, 
 In endeavor stern, and trying. 
 
 In the conflict vrith their Avrongs, 
 Till from lips, all faint with sighing, 
 
 Shall ascend triumphant songs ! 
 
 Angel arms unseen infold thee. 
 
 And the highest, supreme Heart, 
 As a child beloved shall hold thee, 
 
 Pledged to every noble part. 
 So I read the divination 
 
 Of thy life stream's changing flow, 
 To the glorious consummation 
 
 That the just alone may know. 
 
FREED! 
 
 Father, I thank thee ! Thou hast called my child 
 
 Back to thyself, and to its home in heaven ! 
 No more above his bed, in anguish wild, 
 
 Through the dark night-houi's will my prayers be 
 given ; 
 No more at day-break Avill the dreaded horn. 
 
 From the sick sufferer, summon me away ; 
 No more, from his embraces rudely torn, 
 
 I go, despairing, to my gloomy day ! 
 'T was a rich gift, O Father, that proud boy ; 
 
 Gladdenmg my bosom with his eye of light ; 
 And though in him was centered all life's joy, 
 
 Over its beauty hung a nameless blight ! 
 But now, my bliss is mixed with no alloy ; 
 
 Now is my darling born an Angel free, and white ! 
 2* 
 
AN ECSTASY. 
 
 Oh ! strike the mute lyre ! 
 Awake its full fire 
 
 Once again ; 
 Pour forth, all around, 
 That musical sound, 
 
 That sweet strain. 
 
 With the last tone's receding, 
 Bright angels were speeding, 
 
 Full of love, 
 With their pinions spread, fair, 
 On the jubilant air, 
 
 Far above. 
 
 Breathe softly that strain ! 
 They are coming again. 
 See ye not ? 
 
AN ECSTASY. 35 
 
 Softer yet ! they will hear ; 
 They are near, very near 
 To this spot. 
 
 I can count them ! ah, no ! 
 For so swiftly they go 
 
 Trooping by. 
 So fitftilly gleammg. 
 My hot tears are streaming, 
 
 As they fly. 
 
 Softly, soft ! for I know 
 They are Avhispering now ; 
 
 Ah, the strain ! 
 Now, seraphic and clear, 
 It falls full on mine ear ; 
 
 And again 
 
 Comes anothei-, more loud. 
 And see, through that cloud,— 
 
 Oh my brain ! 
 How it whirls, as I gaze, 
 And my strength, in amaze, 
 
 Sinks, as slain. 
 
36 AN ECSTASY, 
 
 For that strange flood of light 
 Has bewildered my sight. 
 
 Play no more ! 
 Such a sweet dream of heaven 
 To my spirit was given 
 
 Ne'er before. 
 
 Ah ! no more I behold. 
 For I shiver Avith cold, 
 
 And ice-chill 
 Are the drops on my brow. 
 And my blood, in its flow, 
 
 Becomes still ! 
 
TO A ITBuD i DiW i i> i |i i #!ii li ^ni*'gl.i¥i D . 
 
 i^niinf tihiiaJiighr-itTnT'''^*'! "^ — IT ^'" ^^°" 
 Eoid m^JQiore closely in thy .pure ejubEattR 
 Oh, crowiimg joy ! above all joys beside, 
 To feel, throughout my inmost being, glide 
 This influence sweet, so wholly sweet, and high. 
 It fills like sunlight all my mental sky. 
 
 Thou heart of hearts ! pure, gentle, and benign, 
 Strengthen, improve, inspire, this heart of mine. 
 As the dull earth the sunbeams penetrate, 
 So rays of thine my spirit permeate ; 
 And clear, along its vailed way, I trace 
 The high unfolduigs of the Infinite Grace, 
 In thy unfettered, and fai'-reaching mind, 
 Prophet, and Priest, and Lover of thy kind ! 
 
 O, I could bow in silence, and revere 
 
 One scarcely fettered to this mortal sphere, 
 
38 
 
 Such inward glory sits upon thy brow, 
 
 And, from thy lips, so heavenly teachings flow. 
 
 Timid with awe, at first, I feared to roam 
 
 The exalted sphere which forms thy spirit's home. 
 
 Though strength, and greatness, on thy steps attend, 
 The gentler virtues with their rigors blend. 
 Sweet Love and "Wisdom, in thy spu-it mild. 
 And unassuming as a little chUd, 
 Simj)le and truthful, earnest and sincei'e ; 
 We can but love thee, whom we so revere. 
 
 Though all around, as waiting thy command. 
 With brows severe, the souls of Wisdom stand, 
 Seraphs of Love on wings irradiant fly. 
 Flashing athwart the clearness of thy sky. 
 In dazzling gleams of such immortal Ught, 
 My eyelids droop to shield my tranced sight. 
 
 And now, methinks, more vast the arches grow ; 
 Oh God ! what see I, passing to and fro ? 
 Beings perfected so beyond compare, 
 Fining with fragrance aU the ravished air. 
 And the wide hum of such entrancing strains. 
 The languid blood seems sleeping in my veins ! 
 
 This deep excess of sweetness pours around 
 A flood of glory, and a flood of sound, 
 
TO A'«-DRi;W JACK&ON DAVIS. 39 
 
 Of such melodious, and pervading power, 
 'T will date, in me, new eras from this hour, 
 Of a more noble sense of high and true, 
 More lovely love, and beauty's fairer hue. 
 This blessed vision shall return, in gleams, 
 Dazzling but soft, to aU my golden dreams. 
 And spite of sorrow, pain, and inward strife, 
 Wreath a bright halo round my future life. 
 
 O, gentle spirit ! whose serene control 
 Moves to exalt and purify my soul ; 
 Whose inspirations, hopeful and sublime, 
 ShaU work then- purpose to remotest time, — 
 If 'tis more blest to give, than to receive, 
 Mildest of Mentors, well may I believe. 
 The rapturous joys, that on my soul attend. 
 This hour, on thee in deeper streams descend. 
 
 Ah, yes ! I see, as I may ne'er impart, 
 How beats thy heart with the Eternal Heart ! 
 How soul to soul, and mind to mastering mind, 
 Thy thoughts, in God, their sphermg center find ; 
 How His high glories, with too rich excess. 
 In hearts like thine their vaUed beams express, 
 Humanely vailed to spare our feebleness ; 
 While the fair temple, now thy soul's abode. 
 Glows with the presence of the living God. 
 
C ANZONETTA, 
 
 TO LITTLE FLOY. 
 
 Leaf, and bud, and blossom, 
 
 As ye spring to birth, 
 On the bounteous bosom 
 
 Of our mother earth. 
 Ye dispel all sadness, 
 
 Put to flight all care, 
 Make delight, and gladness, 
 
 Leap up every where I 
 
 Dreary ! O, how dreary ! 
 
 "Were this world of ours. 
 And how sad and weary, 
 
 But for the sweet flowers. 
 What a dismal glooming 
 
 Darkens every scene 
 Where no flowers are blooming, 
 
 Where no leaves are green. 
 
C ANZONETTA. 41 
 
 Floy ! within thy bosom, 
 
 Waiting thy command, 
 Are leaf, bud, and blossom, 
 
 Ready to expand. 
 Thou their growth must cherish, 
 
 Nurture their perfume. 
 Or will droop, and perish. 
 
 Leaf, and bud, and bloom. 
 
 When thou shalt aiTay them. 
 
 Beautiful and bright. 
 Angels shall convey them 
 
 To the realms of light. 
 There to bloom forever 
 
 In celestial bowers. 
 Where no winter ever 
 
 Blights the precious flowers. 
 
TEMPEST-TOSSED. 
 
 When the wild, wild winds awake from sleep, 
 And over the earth in fury sweej). 
 From angry sky to bellowing deep, 
 Come terror and dismay. 
 
 Changing forever, from quick to slow, 
 Fearfully loud, or strangely low, 
 They fill us with awe, as on they go, 
 Enveloped in mystery. 
 
 When the dread storm-spirit sends them forth. 
 From the far, far regions of the north, 
 Earth tremblingly shrinks as if most loth 
 To encounter their array. 
 
 They hurry along, and laugh, to mock 
 The quivering trees, which seem to flock 
 Closely together, and wait the shock 
 Of the terrible affray ! 
 
TEMPEST-TOSSED. 43 
 
 The proudest ash, and the mighty oak, 
 Are shorn of strength by then- sturdy stroke, 
 And their giant Hmbs are twirled and broke, 
 And in scattered fragments lie. 
 
 And feebler ones, that had fondly made 
 Their humble homes in its spreading shade, 
 Nor felt, in its shelteruig arms, afraid, — 
 Their shivered honors fly ! 
 
 As helpless, oh timid soul, art thou, 
 And wilt need some sheltering oak, I trow. 
 When the storms of Ufe shall fiercely blow. 
 In hurricanes on thee. 
 
 Look up ! look up, to the blest abode ! 
 Lean on the arm of thy Saviour God, 
 Confidingly, as thou walk'st life's road ; 
 
 For thy sheltering guide, is He. 
 
 Oh yes! but the tension of mind will tire, 
 In this upward gaze, and thy soul desire 
 One like itself, though it were higher, 
 Its Guardian to be. 
 
44 TEMPEST-TOSSED. 
 
 Ah, ever may friendship over me fling 
 The shielding cloak of its sheltering wing ; 
 A faithful friend is a precious thmg, 
 And a sacred one to me. 
 
 The sweetest thought to my spirit given 
 Of our final home in the halls of heaven, 
 Is this, that the ties will ne'er be riven, 
 Of fi-iends in Eternity. 
 
THE LOVE CIRCLE. 
 
 Never taken for another 
 Could he be, thy peerless brother, 
 Radiant as eastern skies 
 With the crims'ning of sunrise, 
 As, in loving-kindness, he 
 Bends a Christ-look over thee. 
 
 List ! oh, Usten ! he is seeking, 
 With a musical, low, speaking, 
 Both our spirits to impress 
 With the sweetest tenderness ; 
 More uispiring me, the whUe, 
 With the sunlight of his smile. 
 
 Palpitating nerves, be still ! 
 Hush thy waywardness, my mil ! 
 
THE LOVE CIRCLE. 
 
 Pulses, yet more noiseless beat, 
 And, as in the heart you meet, 
 Let no sudden thrill declare 
 All the rapture throbbing there. 
 
 Oh, what transports thrill my frame ! 
 As a glory-kindhng flame, 
 These divine revealings flow, 
 Permeating, through and through, 
 All my mmost depths of being, 
 Till my life seems fleeing, fleeing. 
 
 Hark ! he says, or seems to say, 
 
 " Would'st thou heavenly realms survey, 
 
 Leave thy clay, and soar vnth me, 
 
 Not with feai', but trustingly ; 
 
 Every hold on earth let go ; 
 
 I will keej) thy spirit now." 
 
 For a moment I waver to and fro 
 
 As a bird will swing on a swaying bough, 
 
 Then upward, as swift as the rushing storm, 
 
 I am borne, as I cling to his perfect form ; 
 
 On, and on, over fields of ether. 
 
 Through limitless realms Ave soar together I 
 
THE LOVE CIRCLE. 47 
 
 And now in the midst of a glorious band, 
 
 In the midst of a glorious scene, I stand ; 
 
 His circle above, is a Circle of Love ; 
 
 In the smile of the Father they live, and move ; 
 
 Through my inmost nature its glow I feel, 
 
 As, with reverent love, at His feet I kneel. 
 
 " Father ! dear Fatner !" I joyfully cry, 
 And the voice is echoed along the sky ; 
 As the sweet appeal to my lip is springing. 
 From angel tongues is an anthem ringing. 
 And I join in the chorus, " Oh, Father, dear !" 
 And lovingly nestle to Him more near. 
 
 Now on my forehead rests, gently caressing, 
 A nail-scarred hand overfull of blessing. 
 And, "Daughter beloved," He saith, "arise !" 
 As wdth tearful eyes, in a glad surprise, 
 I feel the blessing, a holy presence. 
 Thrill my soul to its ultimate essence. 
 
 I turn to the beautiful spirit band, 
 Where my radiant angel guide doth stand. 
 With his glittering wings but half out-spread ; 
 And a halo of glory around his head. 
 
48 THE LOVE CIRCLE. 
 
 That, over his flowing curls of broT\Ti, 
 Sheds a threefold luster, a triple crown. 
 
 Brightest, he seems, of the brilliant throng, 
 And as now, \vith wide wings waved along, 
 They are onward borne 'niid the amber clouds, 
 Oh, God ! how each flasliing pinion crowds 
 With crimson glories my reeling brain, 
 TUl my eyehds droop Avith their Aveight of pain ! 
 
 Right hither their rapid way they Aving, 
 
 Dear Christ ! what a rapturous song they sing ! 
 
 Such somids have never my spirit stirred ; 
 
 Oh Ust ; for methinks, I can catch some Avord, — 
 
 "Love! Love!" is the chorus, and LoA-e the theme; 
 
 Oh, can it be but a fleeting dream ! 
 
 A golden lyre they have given me ; 
 
 I touch its strmgs in an ecstasy, 
 
 And gushing song from my soul is leaping. 
 
 And two wings start, from my shoulders SAveepuig ; 
 
 With a sudden joy their strength I unfold, 
 
 And am dazzled by gleams of their purple and gold. 
 
 Oh beautiful wings ! aa^II ye bear me on 
 
 Where the angel band in their flight haA'e gone ? 
 
THE LOYE CIRCLE. 49 
 
 Methinks their pinions, for me, they stay ; 
 Ah, yet, ! and they beckon to call me away ; 
 I am heard ! like a bird I am gayly up-winging 
 My flight, through the light, 'mid the perfumes and 
 singing. 
 
 Stay ! stay for a moment ! blest vision of light, 
 Let me know, ere I go, if I see thee aright. 
 I snufi" the old earth-air, its vapors I view 
 Surrounding the band of my loved ones, and true ; 
 The choir of the angels grows dim, and more dim, 
 The fairest fades last, till I lose even him. 
 
 Give, angel ! I pray thee, some delicate token. 
 Reminding of thee, when this spell shall be broken; 
 Some beauty that here, in thy heaven, had its birth, 
 "Which I may bear with me, to gladden my earth ; 
 And grant, gentle spirit, again that I come 
 To this Circle of Love, in thy radiant home. 
 3 
 
THE RIVULET. 
 
 A LITTLE Stream Avent flowiug, 
 
 And twittering, toward the sea, 
 With Httle flowerets blowing 
 
 Beside it, tenderly. 
 Tall trees, their arms above it 
 
 With sheltering kindness spread ; 
 Right well did sunbeams love it, 
 
 And genial smiles they shed. 
 
 The earth nnvailed her bosom 
 
 That she might shield its flow, 
 And leaping bud, and blossom, 
 
 Kissed oft, its placid brow. 
 The still and solemn midnight 
 
 Its holy influence lent ; 
 With the sacred moon's half-hid light, 
 
 And whispering star beams blent. 
 
THE RIVULET, 51 
 
 All heavenly visitations, 
 
 To gladden the sweet stream, — 
 All Avreathed exhalations, 
 
 "Were mingled with its dream. 
 The silent darkness doubled, 
 
 Just ere the morning broke, 
 Its seeming depth, untroubled. 
 
 Till a breezy laughter woke. 
 The tAvilight oft would linger, 
 
 Entranced, above it long, 
 As a maid, with lifted finger. 
 
 Stands listening to a song. 
 
 Its evening song was rarest 
 
 Of any, through the day. 
 When sunny beams, the fliirest. 
 
 Would steal back from their way 
 Up the western hills, and over. 
 
 To kiss its brow of night ; 
 And each reluctant lover, 
 
 Ere yet he took his flight, — 
 In purple, and pink, and yellow, 
 
 In crimson and m blue, 
 In every shading mellow. 
 
 And plensiiig to the view, 
 
52 THE RIVULET, 
 
 Would deck hiniself with splendor, 
 As a gorgeous Son of Light, 
 
 And with a blush, most tender. 
 
 Would whisper a low " Good-night !" 
 
 The plants and tree-roots twining, 
 
 Through dry earth, parched with thirst, 
 Would drmk, and their fruits, into shining 
 
 And beautiful globes, Avould burst. 
 No poisonous leaf or blossom, 
 
 Distained its tranquil flow, 
 Though on its lovely bosom 
 
 They floated, to and fro, 
 And because it ever went gliding 
 
 Round rock, and crag, and hill. 
 Some said 't Avas faithless, bidmg 
 
 No certain course, or will. 
 
 Its motions were so noiseless, 
 
 The bubbles, as they broke 
 On the pebbly brink, leapt A^oiceless ; 
 
 Not an Echo-nymph awoke, 
 Till its laughing cascades, bounding, 
 
 Went dovm. the hills with a leap. 
 
5;3 
 
 Such a glecsoine music soundiug 
 That the Naiads sprang from sleep , 
 
 And thus, wdth a tranced motion, 
 An even step, and true. 
 
 Life's flowery vale, to the ocean, 
 It danced and twittered through. 
 
RECOGNITION. 
 
 Lady ! as one, amid the admiring throng 
 Of worshipers, I fain would pour a song 
 Of love and gratitude, though faint to tell 
 The echoing strains that ui ray bosom swell, 
 And the sweet influence that is o'er me throwii, 
 As thrills, through mine, thy soul's melodious tone. 
 
 I see thee walking, hand in hand, with Fame ; 
 I hear the throbbings of the loud acclaim 
 Of souls, who, at the tremblings of thy lyre 
 Catch inspiration from its chords of fire ; 
 Whilst thou, in regnant beauty, as a queen, 
 Rul'st in all hearts, with dignity serene. 
 
 Oh, could my song give language to my heart, 
 What answermg music from thy own would start! 
 But my imtutored tongue is poor, and weak, 
 The sUent victories of thy soul to speak. 
 
RECOGNITION. 55 
 
 I will not soar to match my harp with thine, — 
 But little lakes reflect the great sunshine, 
 And little birds, with chirping carols gay, 
 Herald the coming of the King of Day ; 
 So bubbling, twittering, stammering, I try 
 To teach my lyre some fitting melody, 
 Or yet some prayer, in deep'ning love, to pou 
 That God may keep, and bless thee, evermore 
 
1 
 
 LIGHT IN DARKNESS, 
 
 Ah, hast thou borne the load of care, 
 That weighs the si^irit down ? 
 
 Drank the black waters of despair, 
 Thy every hope that drown ? 
 
 Seen all the stars of joy go out, 
 
 As, one by one, they sank 
 Into the soundless sea of doubt, 
 
 Lea\ang thy heavens a blank? 
 
 Felt, as a flame, the darkness burn 
 
 Into thy fainting heart, 
 And could nor sun, nor moon discern, 
 
 Their healing to impart ? 
 
LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 67 
 
 Felt darksome doubts, and nameless fears, 
 
 Crowding upon thy brain, 
 While the deep fount of mellowing tears 
 
 "Withheld refreshing rain ? 
 
 Felt in thy soul as desolate. 
 
 Unfriended, and alone, 
 As chained, by some relentless fate, 
 
 To the Promethean stone ? 
 
 Ah, yes ! the vulture's beak I see 
 
 Smite on thy spirit form. 
 And the swift hail of agony, 
 
 And sorrow's whelming storm ! 
 
 Thy cherished hope, and love, and pride, 
 
 Like reeds are cloven down ; 
 While doubt and dark despair, allied, 
 
 In clouds of horror frown. 
 
 Still I feel a painful wonder 
 Tlaat a spirit, formed as thine, 
 
 Had not trod its trials under. 
 With a potency di\ane. 
 3* 
 
58 LIGHT IN DARKNESS, 
 
 He, thy loved one, early sinking 
 In the frost of wint'ry skies, 
 
 That bright boy, so early drinking 
 Of the wines of Paradise, — 
 
 Now a radiant angel, roving 
 In a sphere of perfect bUss, — 
 
 Would'st thou he were longer pro\TLng 
 The heart- wasting cares of this ? 
 
 No, thou readest not so dimly 
 Of the Future, of the Now ; 
 
 With new trust, and love, supremely 
 Feel'st, upon thy spirit brow, 
 
 The serene inspiring glances, 
 Beaming from his heavenly eye ; 
 
 Every feeling it entrances 
 To a sweet intensity. 
 
 With a pure, exalted mission, 
 PalUd suffering comes to thee ; 
 
 Let it speak the fuU expression 
 Of its destined ministry. 
 
LIGHT IN DAEKNESS. 59 
 
 Oh, behold ! he stands before us, 
 Dazzlmg to our mental sight, 
 
 As his presence kindles o'er us 
 Flashes of bewildei'ing light ; 
 
 Of a sunshine, radiating 
 
 All my inmost spirit through ; 
 
 Of a love-fire, consecrating 
 
 All, with baptism pure, and true. 
 
 Oh ! I bless thee noble spirit, 
 For the vision thou hast given ; 
 
 That, through thee, we now inherit 
 Still anothei: hold on heaven. 
 
 In my soul comes such a longing 
 To untwine this fleshly coil, 
 
 So to jom the si^irits, thronging 
 On the Paradisean soil ! — 
 
 Yet it is not well to cherish 
 
 Such intensity of fire ; 
 So, with the sweet vision, perish 
 
 All this over- wrought desire ! 
 
60 LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 
 
 Therefore, oh, afflicted mother, 
 Thou hast wisely, bravely done, 
 
 Sorrow in thy soul to smother, 
 For this beatific son. 
 
 All the past, with peace, surrender ; 
 
 Crown the present with new joy ; 
 And thy latest pang shall render. 
 
 To thy arms, thy darling Boy ! 
 
AN INFANT REMINISCENCE. 
 
 Oh, mother in heaven ! thy daughter bends low ; 
 I come, dearest mother, as once, long ago, 
 In a sweet baby-dream, I clung to thy breast, 
 And found there, dear mother, the holiest of rest. 
 
 'T was a cold night of winter, the wild winds were free; 
 With terror I turned to my father, but he. 
 Engaged with his book, heeded not how the blood, 
 Forsakmg my cheek, and broAV, motionless stood 
 
 At the heart's trembling jjortals, in silence profound, 
 How my pale lips kept moving, but uttered no sound ; 
 I cUmbed to his knee, put my cheek to his cheek, 
 Pressed my Ups to his lips, but, alas ! could not speak ! 
 
 " Off, child ! and be quiet," impatient he cried ; 
 
 I turned to my mother, and knelt by her side, 
 
 At her low rocking-chair, where, asleep on her breast, 
 
 A sweet baby-sister all fondly was pressed. 
 
62 AN INFANT REMINISCENCE. 
 
 My arts were unheeded, or coldly put by, 
 
 To catch for one moment the glance of her eye ; 
 
 Then I sought my brave brother, his brow wore a 
 
 frown, — 
 My coming had tumbled his play-houses down. 
 
 Then sorrowful, into my cradle I crept, 
 Hid my face in the pillow, and sobbed till I slept. 
 In my sleep, dearest mother ! I saw thy calm face : 
 The same smile was on it that ever I trace 
 
 On those love-lighted featm'es, for often, since then, 
 When my life has been burdened with soxtow and pain, 
 Thus bent thou above me ; thus, over my soul. 
 Shed the hght of thy love, with a boundless control. 
 
 Ever hold me, dear angel ! as closely as now, 
 Let me feel, as distinctly, thy hand on my brow ; 
 Oh, give me to know that in waking, or sleeping, 
 My spirit is still in thy motherly keeping. 
 
 When my garments of flesh shall be folded away, 
 May I live in thy presence forever, and aye, 
 Forever and aye, on thy bosom to rest. 
 In mansions of glory, at home with the blest. 
 
HEAVENLY PEACE. 
 
 Oh light, intensely golden, 
 
 Yet mellow in its hue, 
 How softly it is molten 
 
 In the empyrean blue ! 
 
 Oh, spirits bright, I hail ye ! 
 
 Companions of my way, 
 No danger can assail me, 
 
 Where'er my footsteps stray. 
 
 Oh, angels ! most entrancing 
 Are your supernal charms, 
 
 As, lovingly advancing. 
 Ye wave your snowy arms. 
 
 Oh, white wings, gently smoothing 
 My lips, and cheek, and brow, 
 
 Serenely ye are soothing 
 My wildest fancies now ! 
 
64 HEAVENLY PEACE. 
 
 Oh, mother, queen of Heaven, 
 Thy smiles upon me rest ; 
 
 Once more to me is given 
 To slumber on thy breast. 
 
 Oh, slumber most alluring, 
 AU heavenly and divine ; 
 
 Oh, peace for aye enduring, 
 Joy ! joy ! that it is mine. 
 
TO SARAH HELEN WHITMAN-. 
 
 Pardon me, lady ! O sweet sister mine, 
 For sooth, I may not, if I would, confine 
 Within my heart, affection's earnest gush, 
 Such floods of feeling through my bemg rush. 
 
 I love thee, lady ! and have loved thee long ; 
 And every utterance of thy simplest song 
 Finds, in my soul, an echo warm and true, 
 And clearly opens, to my mental vieAv, 
 Thy spirit's quiet and exalted home. 
 Whither good angels love so well to come, 
 And often, lady, from the realms of thought, 
 A votive ofiering I to thee have brought, 
 But when, all trembling, I approached the shrine 
 Where burned a fire so lofty and divine, 
 I feared my gift too simple was to place 
 Beside the first-fruits which that altar grace, 
 And I have turned, reluctantly, away. 
 With loitering steps, unwilling to obey. 
 
66 TO SARAH HELEN AV HITMAN. 
 
 But now I view thee as a sister soul, 
 And journey with thee to the self-same goal, 
 I feel new life through all my pulses start, 
 While thus I read the pages of thy heart, 
 Karely to mortals, 'in this nether sphere. 
 Come revelations so exceeding clear. 
 Thy spirit's features I as plainly trace 
 As, in a mu-ror, my reflected face. 
 Would that my soul might be unvailed thus, 
 That my flesh garments were as luminous ! 
 
 One moment more, dear lady, I mtrude ; 
 Oh, deem me not presmuptuous, vain, or rude ; 
 Unskilled, unlettered, is this heart of mine, 
 Simple and childish, when compared with thme ; 
 Yet see ! this harp, which is at my command, 
 Was strimg and given me iby an angel's hand, 
 Who taught me all the beatific skill. 
 To Avake its numbers whensoe'er I will ; 
 And listen, lady ! as, that skill to prove, 
 Across the silken strings my fingers move. 
 
 Oh, hearest thou the rapturous tones that flow 
 From its ethereal chords ! while on heaven's brow 
 The angels listen, or, with waving wing. 
 Send back, responsive, the sweet songs they sing! 
 
TO SARAH HELEN WHITMAN. 67 
 
 Their choral theme, transcendeutly sublime, 
 Is the ascending, glorious march of time. 
 Whose mingling numbers rise, and fall, and swell, 
 Like the high pealings of a minster bell. 
 Would we more perfect, and harmonious grow. 
 Thought, word, and action, thus should interflow. 
 Keeping full concord, and symphonious time. 
 With heaven, and earth, and ocean's mystic chime. 
 
UNCHANGED. 
 
 They who profess the floral tongues to know, 
 
 Say that each blossom hath one, all its own ; 
 That from the Ups of this, forever flow 
 
 The prophecies of change ; that in its tone 
 There lurks a sadness, such as loved ones feel 
 
 "When those who loved them have become estranged. 
 But these fair leaves no waning faith conceal. 
 
 They bear the language of a heart unchanged 
 To thee, Queen Helen ! from my golden bowers ; 
 
 Full of the memories of the treasured past, 
 These crimson leaflets of bignonia flowers 
 
 Trembling with rapture, at thy feet I cast. 
 Thou canst discern the deeper sense, that lies 
 Wreathed in their heart, unseen of unanointed eyes. 
 
IRENE. 
 
 Beautiful, tender, 
 
 And gentle Irene ! 
 Oh, wilt thou surrender, 
 
 With spirit serene, 
 A life, bright and vernal, 
 
 In freshness of youth. 
 For riches eternal, 
 
 Of goodness and truth? 
 Wilt thou bow thy sweet head 
 
 At the summoning voice 
 Of Him who hath said, 
 
 " Come to me and rejoice ! 
 When sorrows attend thee, 
 
 In sickness, or woe. 
 For I will befriend thee, 
 
 And lead thee to know 
 
70 I K E N E . 
 
 That Peace which, descending, 
 Flows on like a rivei", 
 
 So blending, unending, 
 Sweet harmonies, ever." 
 
 Though whirlwinds are raging. 
 
 And rude tempests sweep. 
 And the elements waging 
 
 "Wild war on the deep, 
 His Infinite Will 
 
 All their fury can stay, 
 His low " Peace be still !" 
 
 They forever obey. 
 
 Then, cahn with assurance, 
 
 Repose on His breast ; 
 Be strong in endurance ; 
 
 He givctli thee rest. 
 His angels He sendeth 
 
 On thee to attend ; 
 Above thee He bendeth, 
 
 A fathei-, and friend. 
 In each trial hour, 
 
 As a radiant zone. 
 His right arm of power 
 
 Around thee is thrown. 
 
71 
 
 A Saviour, now wearing 
 
 His Infinite charms, 
 As a lambkin, is bearing 
 
 Thy soul in His arms ; 
 Or, borne on His bosom. 
 
 To regions above. 
 Thou shalt be as a blossom 
 
 Of goodness and love, 
 In His garden of beauty 
 
 Forever to bloom, 
 In the green strength of duty, 
 
 And love's own perfume. 
 
 We will not forget thee 
 
 Our darling Irene 
 But, star-jeweled, set thee 
 
 As hght of each scene ; 
 In our hearts, a dear treasure, 
 
 Thine image shall live. 
 Where a holier pleasure 
 
 No future can give ; 
 Thy love will bloom sweetly. 
 
 Thy memory be green. 
 Till, deathless, we meet thee, 
 
 Our darling Ikene ! 
 
THE LIFTED VAIL. 
 
 Oh, Lady ! lift tliy mournful eyes ; 
 
 Why should despair so blind their sight? 
 See ! yonder, in the red'ning skies, 
 
 Wrestles the all-controlling light. 
 Angels, to minister relief. 
 
 Are bending from the calm above ; 
 Oh, fleetly, may this chilling grief 
 
 Yield to the influence of their love. 
 
 Dear Lady, very well I know 
 
 Thy inner life is clouded o'er 
 With a benumbing, deadening woe, 
 
 A clinging mist on sea and shore ; 
 Though from thy suffering heart will fall 
 
 The mellow notes of hope, and cheer, 
 And thy pale hand would lift the pall 
 
 That darkens o'er the stricken, here. 
 
THELIFTEDVAIL. 73 
 
 A heavenly prophecy I bear, 
 
 Of Peace, upon my aj^irit lips. 
 Thou canst discern the ocean where 
 
 Its polished wings, that halcyon dips. 
 It comes to teach that strength divine 
 
 Shall trimnph o'er this martyrdom, 
 And that high victory shall be thme, 
 
 Which but to strugglmg souls can come. 
 
 Already hath the darkness flung 
 
 Apart her mantle, torn and gray, 
 And, though the dawn hath feebly sprung, 
 
 'T will culminate to perfect day. 
 Be patient then, for, bravely borne. 
 
 Shall Triumph on thy banners rest, 
 And the dark demon hence be torn. 
 
 That clings, a nightmare, to thy breast. 
 
 Divinest joys my spirit fill 
 
 While thus I pierce the darkness through, 
 And see thy future clear, and still, 
 
 And beautiful, as the deep sky's blue. 
 As thy dissolving gloom I scan, 
 
 With a most earnest spirit glance. 
 The wings of warder angels fin 
 
 My cheek, and deeper grows the trance. 
 4 
 
74 THE LI FTKD V AIL, 
 
 A spirit form is near us now, 
 
 Of manly presence, proud and bold, 
 The language of his ample broAV 
 
 Is fuU of histories untold. 
 He draws thee to his heart of hearts, 
 
 His arms around thee gently twine, 
 And the delicious strain imparts 
 
 To thee, a prescience Divine. 
 
 No longer weak, thou standest up. 
 
 With heart redeemed from loss, and doubt : 
 Smiling, thou drink'st the mingled cup 
 
 The angel of thy life pours out. 
 Strength, born of weakness, shall be thine, 
 
 Hope, from the anguish of despair, 
 The faith, and poAver, of love divine, 
 
 Shall all the erring past repair. 
 
CROSS AND CROWN. 
 
 Deep within thy inmost spirit, 
 
 "Where the herds of rough, and rude, 
 
 Can not drink, nor browse anear it, — 
 Far from all that would uitrude. 
 
 Lies a waveless, sunny, lakelet, 
 
 So serenely crystalline, 
 Earthly voices can not wake it 
 
 From its silences divine. 
 
 Birds of briglitest hues are winging 
 O'er its bosom hushed, and still, 
 
 WhUe the raptures of their singing 
 Its profoundest waters thrill. 
 
 Earnest hopes, and sportive wishes. 
 Round in circling eddies turn ; 
 
 Playful fancies, Uke bright fishes. 
 Glitter in the Naiad's urn. 
 
T6 CROSS AND C KOWN. 
 
 When discordant tones, or voices 
 From the outward, to thee come, 
 
 Undisturbed, thy soul rejoices 
 In this quiet spirit-home. 
 
 God is ever very tender 
 Of a soul incased like thine, 
 
 In a frame so frail and slender ; 
 And our anj^^el-friends incline. 
 
 Evermore, to shield, and cherish. 
 One whose life must pine, and wait,- 
 
 Leaving no sweet hope to perish 
 Under a relentless fate. 
 
 Suffering is a purifier. 
 
 If Ave will not shrink, and make 
 More intense the scathing fire 
 
 By A-ain strugglings at the stake. 
 
 Wliat if, for life's little hour, 
 
 Fleshly chains are round us thrown ? 
 See we not, it is the power 
 
 By which martyrs Avin their croA\Ti ? 
 
C R O S S A N D U 11 O AV N . 77 
 
 Ruder souls Avould bear, unfeeling, 
 Shocks that stun thy every sense , 
 
 Standing firm, Avhile thou wert reeling 
 With an agony intense. 
 
 Still in musing, as I ponder 
 
 O'er life's deeply hidden things, 
 Evermore there comes the wonder, 
 
 Whence are its exhaustless springs? 
 
 Whence the latent strength, upspringing 
 
 In such gentle, timid souls ? 
 A bright halo o'er them flinging. 
 
 Which, before our eyes, unrolls 
 
 The sublime, and startling, histories 
 
 Of their unseen, inner life, 
 Deep revealings, deeper mysteries, 
 
 With untold experience rife ? 
 
 And One answers, in a murmur 
 
 Of subdued delight, and saith, 
 Clay may fail, but hearts grow finner, 
 
 By their inbred Love and Faith ; 
 Clay may die, but souls grow firmer. 
 
 Soaring, victors over death ! 
 
HUMAN LOVE. 
 
 Father iu Heaven ! permit me, as I may, 
 
 To bring an offering, simple though it be, 
 Upon the shrme of hmnan love to lay, 
 
 Whereby my soul exalts itself to Thee. 
 Kow bending low, I ask, imploringly. 
 
 That I this silent power may never lose ; 
 Then confident in faith, adoringly 
 
 I gladden in the strength of its repose, — 
 The power that makes us more akin to Thee, 
 
 The highest, sweetest power to spirits born. 
 To love, love only, even should there be 
 
 For us, but wrong, injustice, hate and scorn. 
 Father, I pray Thee, may we ever prove 
 This Omnipresence of Omnipotent Love. 
 
THE DARK RIVER. 
 
 Once, over my sleeping, 
 This vision came sweeping : 
 I wantlerecl alone by a deep river's side ; 
 Their white arms entwining, 
 The ISTaiads, reclining 
 On the breast of the waters, did glide. 
 
 Above them, low bending, 
 The wood-nymphs were blending 
 Their long shining tresses, that flowingly swept 
 The wavelets' soft bosom, 
 Where leaflet and blossom 
 "Were rocked to and fro, as they slept. 
 
 And here, as I strayed 
 With courage dismayed 
 By the sorrows that over me came in a throng, 
 A N"ymph, -with a face 
 FuU of sweetness and grace, 
 Sat singing an exquisite song. 
 
80 THE DARK RIVER. 
 
 And as I drew near, 
 Stooping forward to hear 
 The words of her low and melodious singing, 
 She raised her soft eyes, 
 Full of i^leasant surprise, 
 To mine, and suddenly flinging 
 
 Her arms, w^hite as snow. 
 Around me, the flow 
 Of her jubilant music rose higher, and higher, 
 Till rapture my brain 
 Thrilled with consummate pain, 
 And kindled each sense as with fire ! 
 
 Then, tightening her hold, 
 Adown through the cold 
 Shining darkness of waters we sank, O ! I shiver 
 And shudder, even now. 
 And damp is ray brow. 
 As I think of that dark flowing river f 
 
 For we sank ^yiih the speed 
 Of the rushing storm-steed, 
 Through the waters around us that spun with a hiss; 
 And the cold, as a dart. 
 Sent a pang to my heart, 
 Yet thrilled with a transport of bliss. 
 
THE DARK EI VEE. 81 
 
 Above and below, 
 The stars, to and fro, 
 As sentinels moved round the slumbering stream ; 
 But their soft, wavy light. 
 On the ripples fell bright, 
 In spirals of silvery gleam. 
 
 "With merriest glances, 
 And gracefolest dances, 
 Fair forms, all aromid us, wheeled on wuth the tide. 
 " Oh give me a lyre. 
 Sweet souls! and inspire 
 Such joy in my bosom," I cried. 
 
 Suddenly I seemed uplifted. 
 
 And T\dth them I slowly drifted, 
 Amid melodies ecstatic ; 
 
 And the lyre my touch obeying, 
 
 I, with them, was sweetly playing 
 Symphonies and airs erratic. 
 
 And my lips, too, were unsealed, 
 
 And to me there were revealed 
 Canticles of Love Di\'ine ; 
 
 And I chanted one sweet strain 
 
 O'er and o'er, and o'er again. 
 Ever, thus, to make it mine. 
 4* 
 
82 T H E D A E K li 1 V E E . 
 
 But their songs I might not bring 
 Through the life-tide's weltering, 
 
 Though the vision's light will stay, 
 And the memory of the suiging 
 Will my soul revisit, bringing 
 
 Bright and beauteous thoughts, alway. 
 
 O, the rapture of my waking 
 
 From that slumber ! day was breaking. 
 
 And the heavens were all aglow ; 
 Light upon the eastern skies 
 Flashed, as heavenly prophecies. 
 
 And a voice distinct, though low, 
 
 "Whispered to my spirit-ear, 
 " Be of good and sunny cheer; 
 
 Let thy cares and sorrows cease, 
 Though life's waters, deep and cold, 
 Darkly over thee have rolled. 
 Brief is their ungentle power, 
 And within thy soul, this hour, 
 
 Angels smg of love and peace. 
 
THE BRIGHT RIVER. 
 
 What discordances chaotic 
 
 Still dispute with vis the way ; 
 How the senses rnle, despotic, 
 
 Bartering the soul's life away ; 
 While all false and baseless Fay-dreams 
 
 Creep like truths into the heart, 
 Banishing the fairest day-beams 
 
 That would purer light impart. 
 
 Thus the homes which we inherit, — 
 
 Beautiful beyond compare, — 
 Harbor, each, a crouching spirit, 
 
 All too weak to will, or dare ! 
 And our eyes we 're ever closing 
 
 To the light, so freely given, 
 'Mid inglorious joys reposing, 
 
 All unmindful of our Heaven, 
 
84 THEBRIGIITRIVER. 
 
 And the angels hovering o'er us, 
 Beckoning us, so kindly, on — 
 
 Blessed siDirits, who, before us. 
 To the blissful realms have gone. 
 
 Oh, my sisters ! oh, my brothers ! 
 
 Walking blindfold in the dark. 
 Know ye not how falsehood smothers, 
 
 In your souls, each vital sjoark ? 
 Will ye not arouse you, breaking 
 
 From the bondage of the clay ? 
 Long ago the morn was Avaking 
 
 To a more transcendent day. 
 
 On the walls of heaven are walking 
 
 Angels of immortal birth. 
 Bending down the azure, talking, 
 
 Face to face, with souls on earth. 
 They have waited long, to bless us. 
 
 Full of tenderness and care, 
 Scattering in our paths all precious 
 
 Flowers of joy, that blossom where 
 Love's celestial founts are springing, 
 
 Nourished by ambrosial showers. 
 And all bright winged birds are singing 
 
 In the incense-freighted bowers. 
 
THE BRIGHT RIVE K. 85 
 
 Ay, and they would greet us, telling 
 
 Of the holier things they see, 
 In the glory-lighted dwelling 
 
 Of Incarnate Deity ! 
 
 Lo, a bridge of light is skying 
 
 Death's transparent river-flow ! 
 And the pebbles, under-lying, 
 
 Glitter in the deeps below. 
 Never more shall it grow turbid 
 
 From the storms of grief and care ; 
 Unbelief no more distm-b it, 
 
 Nor the blackness of despair. 
 
 Even the bubbling of its foam is 
 
 With a mystic charm endued, 
 And a bow of sweetest promise 
 
 Hangs above it, seven-hued ; 
 And the meaning of its flowing 
 
 Waxes ever more divine. 
 And the sands, beneath it glowing, 
 
 Are of pearl, and crystalline. 
 
 Sweetly flowing, tranquil river ! 
 
 Gliding, noiseless, on thy way, 
 Never more from thee, forever, 
 
 Shall we shrink, in fear, away. 
 
THE BRIGHT RIVER. 
 
 Oh, sweet river ! as we 're gliding 
 
 So serenely down thy stream, 
 Seems it as in one abiding, 
 
 All-entrancing, glory-dream ! 
 Death, thou angel of pure brightness, 
 
 Death, thou vision of delight, 
 Though our souls were ne'er so sightless, 
 
 Thou wilt turn to day their night. 
 
 As a young babe, sweetly sleeping 
 
 In the mother's fond embrace. 
 We consign unto thy keeping 
 
 All the loved of time and place, 
 There is rapture in but thinkuig 
 
 Of thy river of life subhme. 
 Where we '11 stoop with angels, di'inking 
 
 In the blissful after-time. 
 
 Thus, oh, thus then, slowly diifting, 
 
 Drifting, drifting, slowly on. 
 Where the glorious arch is lifting. 
 
 Through which our beloved have gone,- 
 Underneath it floating slowly. 
 
 Slowly floating, floating slow. 
 Through resplendent scenes of glory, 
 
 Where melodious rivers flow, — 
 
IGHT KIVER. 87 
 
 Now with swifter, swifter motion, 
 
 Swaying vnth the swaying tide, — 
 Omvard, to the shoreless ocean 
 
 Of eternity, we ghde ! 
 Ocean, ruffled but by rimphngs 
 
 Of sweet airs from odox'ous Isles, 
 And the drowsy, dallying dunplings 
 
 Of the -winged zephyr's smUes. 
 
 Oh, so bUssful are the gleamings, 
 
 Gleamings of the bliss to be, 
 So delicious the dear dreamings, 
 
 Dreamings of Eternity, 
 That the rapturous reveaUngs 
 
 Antedate their heaven in me. 
 And, in hallo-^ong all my feelings, 
 
 Flood them with sweet ecstasy. 
 
THE VIOLET. 
 
 A VIOLET, buried in deep woods, am I, 
 Quietly nestled in my solitude, 
 Loving the voices of the true and good ; 
 
 With petals open to the kindly sky, 
 
 I drink the glimpsing Ught, and twinkling dew, 
 Shed from the Father's ever-bounteous hand, 
 Who looks upon me with a smile, so bland 
 
 It fills my vailed heart with odors new. 
 
 Not for the world's applauses would I grow 
 In any spot less hallowed by His love. 
 
 Though gaudier grandeurs rotmd my home might glow, 
 And flowers, more beauteous, proudly nod above ; 
 
 No ! the green darkness of my dell is dear 
 
 For the Great Love that clings so warmly round me here. 
 
LATENT JOY. 
 
 In the solemn depths of this soul of thine 
 Bright jewels of Fancy serenely shine, 
 With gems of Thought, of a hue divine. 
 
 As I wander on 'mid its sunny bowers, 
 I find the brightest, and sweetest flowers, 
 Whose beauty Avould gladden life's saddest hours. 
 
 But, alas ! a canker will soonest come 
 
 To the rarest plant, and the fairest bloom ; 
 
 Then cherish, ere perish, the fleet perfume 
 
 That over thy spirit waves, and floats. 
 
 With the measured music of singing thoughts, 
 
 And the peahng of feeling's loftiest notes. 
 
90 LATENTJOY. 
 
 Oh, suffer it not that gloomy thought 
 
 Should sully the joy, or cast a blot 
 
 On the high, clear sky of thy changing lot. 
 
 The hallowed hopes that over thee brood, 
 And the perfumed breath of thy womanhood, 
 As the blessed deeds of the true, and good, 
 
 Are shedding forever, aromid thy way, 
 An odor of sweetness, and love, that aye 
 Grows deeper, and sweeter, all the day I 
 
 I feel in a sacred, a charmed spot, 
 
 And into its depths I would venture not, 
 
 Save with spirit redeemed from stain and blot. 
 
 A power of re- vision is over me cast ; 
 
 I tread with thee through a darkened past, 
 
 Where gleams and glooms give a strange contrast. 
 
 Is the sense of thy guardian's symbol clear? 
 Was thy childhood darkened with doubt and fear. 
 And the blistering fogs of untimely care ? 
 
 Was thy little bosom rudely tossed 
 
 By pangs relentless, and fond hopes crossed, 
 
 Till thy childish faith was almost lost ? 
 
LATENT JOY. 91 
 
 Still canst thou remember sweet glimpses of blue, 
 When the somber clouds let the sunlight through, 
 With shimmer, and glimmer, to gladden thy view ! 
 
 And there were moments, when gladness came 
 
 Into thy heart, as a leaping flame. 
 
 And joy, bright joy ! was no longer a name. 
 
 Ay, there were times when a purpose high 
 Shone on thy cheek and lip, burned in thme eye, 
 And thy proud heart beat triumphantly ! 
 
 I tremble, abashed, and am half afraid. 
 
 The dfedalous paths of thy heart to thread, — 
 
 Tlie secret heart of a fair, young maid ! 
 
 And dowTi, over many a sacred scene, 
 Over many a closed, and hallowed spot, 
 
 Thy guardian angel lets fall a screen. 
 
 And, with gentle tone, says, " Enter it not !" 
 
 But she silently points to a fearful weight 
 That over thy heart's young hope was hung, 
 
 And tells how the cruel hand of Fate, 
 
 From that heart, the bitterest drops hath wrung. 
 
2 LATENTJOY. 
 
 She holds a wreath of thy past to me; 
 
 Oh ! say, is the garland's symbol true ? 
 Mid the brightest buds, and blossoms free, 
 
 Are cypress leaves, and the twigs of yew ! 
 
 But sorrow itself hath a mission high ; 
 
 And Hope's defeats are not all in vam ; 
 Some joy is latent in every sigh. 
 
 Some pleasure responds to the keenest pain. 
 
 The past shall seiwe, as a winding stair, 
 To action still more noble, and true ; 
 
 And the galling chains of an old despair 
 Hold the golden seal of a promise new I 
 
THE OAK. 
 
 TiiSTT little Acorn ! underneath the ground, 
 Working out a problem, solemnly profound ! 
 
 Shoot ! of simplest beauty, frail as thou art fair, 
 Meekly giving utterance to the acorn's prayer ; 
 
 Lightly sprmging Sapling, promising so much. 
 Ever swajong, gracefully, to the zephyr's touch ; 
 
 Tree! of fair proportions, slender, lithe, and strong, 
 Giving back the chorus of the wild wind's song ; 
 
 Pride of all the forest, tree acknowledged king, 
 When the storms are sorest, when the tempest's bring. 
 
 From the dreary northland, all their fearful force, 
 And thy fellows tremble from their furious course ; 
 
94 T H K O A K . 
 
 Bald to rebel winter, garlanded in spring, 
 Oak ! in all thy changes, nurturexl to be king ; 
 
 Regally majestic, thou dost wear thy croTvni, 
 Laughing loud, and scornfully, at the Storm-god's 
 frown. 
 
THE CONSECRATION. 
 
 Lo, at miduight, to my slumbers 
 
 Came a dream of bliss, to me ; 
 And in soft, liarmonious numbers, 
 
 Will I whisper it to thee. 
 
 I a vigil had been keeping. 
 
 Thinking she would surely come ; 
 
 When I lost myself in sleeping, 
 
 And my thoughts were gathered home. 
 
 Soon I saw, above me bending, 
 
 A fair form of radiant light, 
 Every beauteous charm Avas lending 
 
 In her features heavenly bright. 
 
 Thus she spake : " O, would'st thou know me ' 
 
 Seek thou not the fearful spell 
 That o'ercast my life's sad story, 
 
 Ifthoulovest 'L. E. L.' 
 
96 THE CONSECRATION 
 
 " But, O let thy spirit, rather, 
 Seek companionship with mine, 
 
 Where no storms can ever gather, 
 In the light of Love Divine ! 
 
 " For, believe me, gentle maiden. 
 None that story ever knew ; 
 
 Deep withm my heart, grief-laden, 
 It was hid from mortal view. 
 
 *' And if thus my soul is speaking 
 Of the griefs that once were mine, 
 
 It is but to curb the seeking 
 Of that eaiTiest heart of thine. 
 
 " For no mortal pen hath written. 
 
 Yet, the inmost history 
 Of one loving heart. How fitting 
 
 Then, my soul should counsel thee. 
 
 *' But enough. I come to take thee 
 Where diaphanous rivers flow. 
 
 There my spirit friends await me 
 Come, arise ! 
 
THE CONSECRATION. 97 
 
 Then lier strength must have been married 
 
 To some other than her own ; 
 As an mfant was I caiTied 
 
 In her arms' encu-cling zone ; 
 Till before a gate we tarried, 
 
 TThich, anon, was open thrown. 
 
 Forth, from the open gate, there came 
 Two figures, clad in robes of flame ; 
 To her spake one, whose godlike tone 
 Assured me it was "VYashhigton ; 
 The other smiled on me, and then 
 I recognized the soul of Penn. 
 
 To me he slid, " AYhy this surprise ? 
 Why tears Avithin thy spirit's eyes ? 
 
 And wherefore tremble thus ? 
 Spirit, we come thy strength to prove, 
 And bless thee for thy earnest love, 
 
 And truth so luminous. 
 
 " Be strong in patience, to endure, 
 Thou hast a mission high, and pure ; 
 
 Be faithful to fulfill, 
 Fqt, oft as dewy eve, will fall 
 That warning voice, so still and small, 
 
 That tells the Father's will. 
 
THE CONSECRATION. 
 
 " And know, that tlirough the whirl of care, 
 The feeblest whisper of thy prayer 
 
 Will reach the ear of heaven ; 
 And let it cheer thee in thy task, 
 For what thy spirit thus shall ask, 
 
 To thee it shall be given, 
 
 " Commissioned Teacher ! be it thine 
 To show the inward power divine 
 
 That Lights the willing heart ; 
 Sweet Inspiration's guiding ray. 
 Which clearly points the better way, 
 
 Seek purely to impart. 
 
 "A Prophet of that Faith, I see 
 Forecast, its perfect victory ; 
 
 And thou, in gentleness. 
 In purity of love, I ween, 
 Unwavering trust, and hope serene, 
 
 May be its Prophetess !" 
 
 My head was resting on his knee, 
 His hand caressing, fatherly, 
 
 My flowing hair smoothed down ; 
 When, singling out a random tress, 
 He kissed it with deep tenderness, 
 
 And said in uentle tone : 
 
THE CONSECRATION. 
 
 " I will not cut the tress away, 
 But bid the little mentor stay — 
 
 Memorial of Pemi, 
 Whose tongue shall bless thy going forth 
 To teach God's glory upon earth, 
 
 Peace, and good will to men !" 
 
 Then Washington and L. E. L. 
 Came to us ; filled with awe, I fell. 
 
 In trembling at his feet ; 
 " Maiden arise, arise !" said he, 
 " Behold a brother soul, in me. 
 
 Coming thine OAvn to greet." 
 
 To raise me, gently stooping down, 
 He said, with deprecative tone, 
 
 " Banish this foolish fear ; 
 The tranquil and harmonious flow 
 Of Love's pure stream we, only, know, 
 
 Who dwell within this sphere." 
 
 He laid his hand uj^on my brow, 
 A cliilling shudder ran me through ; 
 
 And, down my inmost soul, 
 A voiceful silence seemed to creep ; 
 My trance became more fixed and deep. 
 
 Beneath his strong control. 
 
100 THE CONSECRATION. 
 
 "Behold !" he said ; I looked, and lo ! 
 Whole armies, marching to and fro. 
 
 Before my startled eyes ; 
 I heard the terrifying crash, 
 The cannon's roar, the stunning clash, 
 
 That rent the sliuddermg skies ! 
 
 I saw the desolating crush. 
 
 The hopeless, the despairing rush 
 
 Of soul's, by terror racked ; 
 The Avant, and woe, and cankering care. 
 Ruin and death, that every where. 
 
 By teai'S, and blood, wore tracked ! 
 
 This horror passed ; and lo, I stood 
 Within a dark and gloomy wood. 
 
 "Behold!" my Leader saith. 
 I looked, but sickened, turned away ; 
 For there a murdered traveler lay, 
 
 Wrestling alone with death ! 
 
 ()n\vard we journeyed, coming where 
 Loud shouts, and laughter, filled the air, 
 
 And thoughtless thousands flocked ; 
 A gallows lifted, to the sky, 
 (rod's image in humanity, 
 
 That winds, irreverent, rocked ! 
 
THE C O N S E C K A T I O N . 101 
 
 Oh, inurder's self had not the power, — 
 Nor all the evil battles shower 
 
 Along their blood-stained sod, — 
 To match this agonizing sight, 
 Done in the name of Law and Right, 
 
 Done in the name of God ! 
 
 Still on we went, and reached, at length, 
 A city, glorious in strength, 
 
 The pride of all the earth ; 
 But even a fiend would blush to name 
 The wrong, and woe, the crime, and shame. 
 
 That in its heart had birth ! 
 
 There man, his brother man betrayed, 
 Hatred, distrust, and envy, made 
 
 Withm its walls, their nest ; 
 Lust, avarice, pride, and dark deceit, 
 Seemed w^tli each other to compete. 
 
 In every human breast. 
 
 Rehgion ! over me there falls 
 
 A dark'ning shadow, like a pall's, 
 
 As of her shame I speak ! 
 From all her churches rang no Law, 
 The weak to cheer, the bad to awe, 
 
 She Avas so shorn and weak ! 
 
102 THK CONSECRATION, 
 
 Thither the purse-proud worshiper, 
 And his sleek priest with silken stir, 
 
 Came, every Sabbath day, 
 Together, in each stately hall, 
 On God, in hollow words, to call, 
 
 And publicly to pray, 
 
 No entrance for the humble poor ! 
 None but the rich find open door ; 
 
 Jesus himself might wait ! 
 Wan memory shudders to rcA^eal 
 The records which their hearts conceal, 
 
 Of Pomp's delusive state. 
 
 With grief I turned to Washington, 
 Whose face was radiant as a sun ; 
 
 "And is there then, no cure? 
 Nothing but vsdckedness ?" I cried, 
 " Whereby the Good is crucified ; 
 
 And must it thus endure ?" 
 
 " Yes ! till, with tongues of Hving flame, 
 God's ministers this truth proclaim, — 
 
 ' Love is the life of good, 
 The only medicine we can give 
 Is, teaching men the art to live 
 
 In human brotherhood.' 
 
THE CONSECRATION. 103 
 
 " Then maiden, on thy mission go ! 
 God on thy soul will strength bestow, 
 
 This principle to teach ; 
 Till every soul, in every other. 
 Shall recognize a spirit brother, 
 
 This living gospel preach," 
 
 He ceased; and as rich music, then, 
 Fell on my ear the voice of Penn ; 
 
 " Yea, bid all men rejoice ; 
 For lo, the heavens are bendmg now. 
 And they who listen, kneelmg low. 
 
 May hear Jehovah's voice. 
 
 "And revelations deep, and clear, 
 Will come to every willmg ear. 
 
 With soul-inspiring good ; 
 While spirits of the glorified 
 Shall walk, each loving soul beside, 
 
 In closest brotherhood. 
 
 "Rejoice! thou hast a Avinning speech. 
 Men's wiser, better thoughts, to reach ; 
 
 Then, evermore, proclaim 
 This gospel to the erring earth. 
 Of brotherhood, and spiiit-birth, 
 
 In God's most holy name." 
 
104 THE CONSECRATION'. 
 
 In the dissolving of the trance 
 I saw a graceful spirit-dance, 
 
 A brilliant festive scene ; 
 Glad spirits glided to and fro, 
 To music's undulating flow ; 
 
 And in each pause, between, 
 
 A loftier symphony I heard ; 
 And, as I tried to catch some word 
 
 Of the sweet interlude. 
 These heavenly echoes sprang to birth, 
 " Glory to God ! and peace on earth ! 
 
 And Human Brotherhood !" 
 
 'I 
 
AVE MARIA. 
 
 Oh thou, my spirit friend, 
 Sweet mother ! as I bend 
 
 Heart and knee, 
 Teach what my tongue shall say, 
 That I aright may pray 
 
 Unto thee. 
 
 I would become more pure, 
 More willing to endure 
 
 What may be ; 
 Knowing that, at my side 
 Whatever may betide — 
 
 Guarding me, 
 
 Thy angel walks in hght. 
 As walked thy Son by night 
 
 On the sea ! 
 And though my hfe-boat frail, 
 Rude tempest may assail, 
 
 Wrathfully, 
 5* 
 
106 AVE MARIA. 
 
 And waves tumultuous rise, 
 Threatening the pallid skies, 
 
 In mad glee ! 
 While fearful lightnings hiss 
 Down wave, and precipice, 
 
 Scornfully ! 
 
 Yet will I know no fear ; 
 Oh, holy mother dear. 
 
 Maid-mother free ! 
 Thy sweet, assuring smile 
 Rests over me, the while, 
 
 Earnestly. 
 
 Sweet mother, mine, I pray, 
 Take not that hght away ; 
 
 May it be 
 Within my inmost soul, 
 And all my thoughts control, 
 
 Perfectly. 
 
 So holy is its power. 
 My soul can but adore 
 
 Thine, and Thee ! 
 The wisdom, love, and grace, 
 Wlaich, from thy heavenly face, 
 
 Beam on me ! 
 
TO LOTTIE. 
 
 Lottie ! though the angels told me 
 Of the strength withm thy heart, 
 
 Still, as closely I mfold thee, 
 Comes to mme a bitter smart. 
 
 I would soothe those throbbmg temples, 
 
 Cool the fever of thy brow; 
 Ah, the sunUght faintly trembles 
 
 Through thy saddened spirit, now ! 
 
 Like a stately city, standing 
 
 By old Ocean's open door. 
 All its ceaseless strength commandmg, 
 
 All its treasures, evermore ; 
 
108 TO LOTTIE. 
 
 So thy spirit's calm reposing, 
 Seemeth, to my spirit eyes, 
 
 As some crystal sea, inclosing 
 All the SAveets of Paradise; 
 
 Centered by a gleaming city, 
 
 With its clustering domes and spires ; 
 
 And ray spirit swells with pity 
 At the sacrificial fires, 
 
 Burning on its temple altars, 
 Gleaming on its golden shrine ; 
 
 But the great sun never falters 
 In its path of hyaline. 
 
 Be thou faithful, in thy bosom 
 
 It shall kindle purer fires. 
 Making, in its depths, to blossom 
 
 Higher, holier desires. 
 
 Bird-like melodies, the sweetest, 
 In its dewy-dawn will start, 
 
 Pouring victory's completest 
 Anthem, from thy inmost heart. 
 
TO LOTTIE. 109 
 
 God himself gives inspiration 
 
 To these choiring thoughts of thine ; 
 
 Guard, then, every emanation 
 From this origin divine. 
 
 Why thus saddened, beyond measure, 
 
 In these clouds about thy way 
 Oh, look up ! and learn to treasure 
 
 Stars that turn even night to day. 
 
 Wheresoe'er thoii goest pouring 
 
 Golden Hope, and beamy faith, 
 Till thy heart and soul are soaring, 
 
 Victors, over fate and death. 
 
THE PROMISE. 
 
 Lady ! thy arms of love are open mde, 
 And, more than glad, to their embrace I glide ; 
 For, once within their ample circle prest, 
 There comes a sweet security of rest. 
 
 I would my yearning heart could find a tone 
 Echoing responsive language to thy own, 
 Tliough in its far recesses I discern 
 The fires of love and gratitude that bum 
 On Friendship's altar, and behold, in thine, 
 The same sweet flame burn, lambent and divine, 
 Still, when expression's nobler flight I seek, 
 I find my tongue reluctant, slow, and weak ; 
 My humble lyre no lofty song will bring, 
 But tones of sweetness vibrate on each string. 
 
THE PROMISE. 11 
 
 Restless ambition ever toils to bind 
 
 Her glittering chains upon the active mind, 
 
 But thou, exalted to some noble aim, 
 
 A brighter crown, a purer wi-eath may claun ; 
 
 Fronting so bravely all the iUs of life, 
 
 And walking feai-less through its wrongs and strife. 
 
 If thus, forever, thou canst hold in view, 
 
 The starry heights of a pure life, and true, 
 
 Thy future's pathway shall be crowned with bliss. 
 
 That far outweighs the martyrdoms of this ; 
 
 No clouds shall darken, with malignant frown, 
 
 But fadeless laurels thy white temples crown ; 
 
 Seraphs of beauty golden censors swing, 
 
 Love's holiest incense over thee to fling, 
 
 And, borne aloft on music's waves, shall soar 
 
 Thy victor-soul, right on, for evermore ! 
 
EHYTHMIC CONTRASTS 
 
 As, beneath the crystal waters, 
 Diamonds ghtter, very clear. 
 
 So thy mental sons, and daughters, 
 Through their element ajjpear, 
 
 In thy soul's serenest chambers. 
 
 Reason's children make their home, 
 And Thought's sunlight, as it clambers 
 
 To its blue, meridian dome. 
 Gilds, with loveliness transcendent, 
 
 All thy high imaginings ; 
 And the angel, thy attendant. 
 
 Shakes ambrosia from her wings. 
 
 Thy soul's temple I have entered, 
 
 And I Unger at the shrine, 
 "Where, in oriel-light, are centered 
 
 The deep springs of the Divine. 
 
RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS. 113 
 
 Here are contrasts so united 
 
 In all holiest marriages, 
 Strength to Gentleness is plighted, 
 
 Pride to sweet Humilities. 
 
 O'er thy sky come sudden changes, — 
 
 Turns of Fate's Kaleidoscope ; 
 To my spirit, as it ranges 
 
 Over thine, there seems to ope 
 Scenes of glory, so entrancing, 
 
 That I tremble as I view. 
 Lingering now, and now advancing, 
 
 Through each thought-paved avenue. 
 
 As a dove might, young and tender, 
 
 Find security, and rest, 
 For its pinions thin, and slender, 
 
 In the fearless Eagle's nest, — 
 
 As beneath an oak wide-spreading, 
 
 Nestles the sweet Eglantine, 
 As a rivulet, slow threading 
 
 Its dark way, where rocks incline, 
 Suddenly in light emerges. 
 
 Growing deeper, and more clear, 
 Till it mingles with the surges 
 
 TumbUng on the -windy mere ; 
 
114 RHYTHMIC CONTRASTS. 
 
 So all timid spirits, wrestling 
 With the fearful storms of life, 
 
 To thy eagle soul fly, nestling 
 From the tumult, and the strife ; 
 
 So thy thought from doubt emerges, 
 Growing deeper, and more clear, 
 
 Till it mingles -with the surges 
 Of the Everlasting mere ! 
 
THE DIFFERENCE. 
 
 Men speak of grief as if tliey were acquaint 
 
 Tlierewith, or it were possible for them, 
 Though chastened by afflictions, e'er to paint, 
 
 Or to conceive the woes, that as a flame. 
 Consume the heart of woman. They do not 
 
 Oifer their heart's whole wealth upon Love's shrine ; 
 Altar and incense are too oft forgot. 
 
 In striving with the world, delving the mine 
 For gold, or the poor purchase of a Name. 
 
 She in her heart's devotion ever kneels. 
 Her oifering burns in one undying flame ; 
 
 Hiding her pain but his she knows and feels, 
 She lives, loves, hopes, and dies for him alone ; 
 
 Woe, that such love and faith by man are over- 
 thrown ! 
 
FLOWER FAYS. 
 
 I WILL tell you of a vision, 
 
 A \asion of sweet power, 
 Which came from the Elysian, 
 
 And was brought me by a flower. 
 
 For an hour, a whole hour. 
 
 Above it I would bend ; 
 Would you thmk a little flower 
 
 Could have won your simple friend, 
 
 O'er its beauty frail, to ponder. 
 With an earnest child-like wonder, 
 And its leaflets fair to sunder. 
 One by one ? 
 
FLOWKRFAYS. 117 
 
 Call it not a cruel part ; 
 For, within its tender heart, 
 I had found a polished dart, 
 
 Thither thrown 
 
 By some merry-hearted boy, 
 In the recklessness of joy, 
 Never thinking 't would destroy 
 
 Its young bloom. 
 
 Oh, the rose did redly pout. 
 As I pulled the arrow out ; 
 And it scattered all about 
 
 Its perfume, 
 
 Till the fragrance made me faint ; 
 When with gesture, O, so quaint ! 
 Breathed it out a low complaint. 
 In a song. 
 
 Sooth, I can not give the ail". 
 For it was, beyond compare. 
 Very M'onderful and rare ; 
 
 And a throng 
 
118 FLOWEE FAYS. 
 
 Came, of inischief-loving sprites, 
 "Who in damp, mid-summer nights, 
 Toss the ever-flashing hghts. 
 
 In the vale, — 
 
 While the lonely whippowil, 
 From his bower beneath the hill. 
 All the listening air doth fill 
 
 With his wail, — 
 
 They with mirth-provoking glances. 
 Wheeled around me in gay dances, 
 Their brows wreathed with bright pansies. 
 Wet with dew. 
 
 Held each hand a cup of gold. 
 Wreathed in shapes of fairest mold 
 And the quaintest tales they told, 
 Which, if true, 
 
 I am sure I would not tell ; 
 And if false, it were as well 
 That a silence o'er them fell, 
 Tenderly. 
 
FLOWER FAYS. 119 
 
 So these I mil not recall, 
 Tho' the drapery of them all 
 Flutters, as a glittering pall, 
 Over me. 
 
 But the moral of them is, 
 That thy life's distilled bliss, 
 Never might atone for tliis 
 
 "Wanton waste 
 
 Of the cherished sweets, that clung 
 Where my scented petals hung, 
 And to heaven their sweetness flung, 
 Baby-chaste. 
 
 Speed then, gather up some one 
 Of the leaves so careless thrown; 
 Let its sad, forgiving tone, 
 
 Plead its wrong. 
 
 For each leaflet, spreading fair, 
 Was the utterance of a prayer, 
 Which the flower gave the air, 
 In a song. 
 
1 20 F L O W E K FAYS. 
 
 'Go-n the merry sprites to drink 
 From the tiny goblet's brink ; 
 At which one, with roguish wink, 
 
 Drew more near ; 
 
 And a saucy elf he was. 
 
 For he touched my shoulder, as 
 
 His thin treble, shi-ill as glass. 
 
 Pierced my ear. 
 
 " To illume earth's darkened hours. 
 Heaven," he said, " sends human flowers, 
 Human hearts from evil powers 
 To bejruile. 
 
 " And the aroma of sweet feeling 
 From them, mistily is stealing, 
 And the light of their revealing 
 Is a smile. 
 
 " But too oft they feign a part, 
 Feigning, till the fearful smart, 
 Of some unsuspected dart, 
 
 Makes them feel 
 
FLOWER FAYS. 121 
 
 Something of the debt they owe 
 To the Heavens, that hestow 
 Beauty's corruscatmg glow, 
 
 Good and iU." 
 
 Then he laughed out nienily, 
 As he held his cup to me ; 
 "This is nectai, drink!" said he, 
 With a shout. 
 
 Then I heard their goblets clink, 
 Saw their little elf-eyes bUnk ; 
 And they laughed, till one would think 
 Such a rout 
 
 All their bloomy sphere must shake, 
 And its deepest caverns make 
 Merry mocking echoes take. 
 For a time ; 
 
 TvTiilo the pool of lilies, thrilled 
 Through and through, its ripples stilled, 
 And the deeps of air were filled 
 
 With the chime. 
 
KEVERIE. 
 
 One summer evening, calm and still, 
 I sat upon a mossy hill, 
 And listened to the whippowil, 
 Glad bird of night ; 
 
 When came a voice, so soft and clear, 
 It fell upon my raptured ear 
 Like music from another sphere. 
 In dreaming heard. 
 
 It was a sound for earth too rare, 
 A sad-like, yet a joyous air ; 
 I can, to nothing fit, compare 
 That minor sound. 
 
123 
 
 Its vocal source I never knew ; 
 It came upon me as the dew- 
 Comes, and we ken not shape or hue, 
 At shut of night. 
 
 But oh, it had a power to still 
 The ragings of the wayward will, 
 And deep, with holy thoughts, to fiU 
 The tranced mind. 
 
 And other voices 'gan combine, 
 To swell the choruses divine. 
 Whereat my soul did gladly join, 
 I knew not how. 
 
 I know that, from their holy home, 
 Exalted spirits oft will roam, 
 And to the haunts of mortals come, 
 With power to bless ; 
 
 But never, till that rapturous even. 
 Such grace was to my spirit given, 
 To feel, to taste, so much of heaven. 
 So much of God. 
 
RUTH, 
 
 The veined Wind-Flower in the somber wood, 
 
 Thought breeding Pansies in the sunlight glowing, 
 Or red-cloaked Lihes in the meadows growmg. 
 
 Best image thee, in every changing mood ; 
 
 For as the tricksy shadows all the while, 
 Keep dancing round us, in perpetual play, 
 So, o'er tliy soul, its ever-changing sway 
 
 Fancy asserts. Yet like a sea-girt Isle 
 
 Reason, deep-centered, sits, Majestic Queen ! 
 Though, all about, the wavelets gayly flash, 
 On her white feet, with a perpetual dash. 
 
 She keeps her throne immutably serene, 
 "With an eternal svmshine on her brow. 
 That sheds a rosy light on all the vales below. 
 
CLARE AND LILLIE, 
 
 Oh, I see your little Lillian ! 
 
 See your lily-bud so sweet, 
 Floating amid clouds vermilion, 
 
 With all loveliness replete. 
 Oh, the soul-entrancing beauty 
 
 Of the matchless Shming One ! 
 We should bow m worship, could we 
 
 Catch its full and perfect tone. 
 
 Angels shield my tranced spirit! 
 
 This is sure some glory-child, 
 Born of beings who inherit 
 
 Souls by flesh-robes undefiled ; 
 What a glory floats around her, 
 
 What a gleam is o'er her spread ; 
 With white lilies they have croAvned her 
 
 Meekly-bending, graceful head. 
 
126 CLARK AND LILLIK. 
 
 Locks, of sunny hue, are flowing 
 
 Lightly, o'er her snowy brow, 
 "While her dimpled hands are throwing 
 
 Recognition toward us, now. 
 Father ! mother ! can your feeling 
 
 Catch her j^resence bright and blest ? 
 Does the beautiful revealing. 
 
 With sweet influence, on you rest ? 
 
 Lo, another spirit, bending 
 
 Down the roseate serene ; 
 Fuller maidenhood is blending 
 
 In her graceful form, and mien ; 
 Vails of gossamer are flo^nng 
 
 Down her white limbs, to her feet, 
 And the zephyrs, round her blowing, 
 
 Are most redolent of sweet. 
 
 Round her neck, and on her bosom, 
 
 Hangs a fragrant garland bright, 
 Formed of every beauteous blossom 
 
 SiDringing in Elysian hght, 
 Violets, and pale pink roses. 
 
 With each radiant, starry bloom ; 
 Even the myrtle here, reposes 
 
 All foi'getful of its gloom. 
 
CLAKE AND ULLIE. 12V 
 
 And tliis incense-breathing garland, 
 
 Heaving with her bosom's swell, 
 Wakens visions of that far land. 
 
 Where perfected spirits dwell. 
 In her left hand she is holding 
 
 A fair tablet, ivory white, 
 Slowly, with her right, unfolding 
 
 Pictures radiant as light. 
 
 A gem-studded pencil, slender, 
 
 Hangs suspended from her neck, 
 She, with glance inspired and tender ; 
 
 Gazes at the clouds that deck. 
 In the west, the distant sky-hill, 
 
 With all gorgeous colorings ; 
 Tears the depths of her dark eye fill, 
 
 Joying in their glorious things, 
 
 Now her snowy arm she stretches 
 
 Upward, toward the blue profound, 
 Then, with hasty hand, she sketches 
 
 All the gorgeous scene around. 
 Oh, to see her, as she lingers 
 
 Over each harmonious line. 
 See her slender, svmlit fingers, 
 
 So translucently divine ; 
 
128 CLARE AND LILLIE. 
 
 See the changing of hei' features, 
 
 Of her red lips' tuneful jilay, 
 'T would exalt even earthly natures 
 
 To obUvion of their clay ! 
 Now the fringed lids are drooping 
 
 Over eyes dark -luminous ; 
 Forward she is slowly stooping, 
 
 Ah ! methinks, she looks on us : 
 Yes, she sees ! is recognizmg 
 
 "Well known faces. Do you hear 
 The blent voices now, uprising, 
 
 Of your Lillian, and Clare ? 
 
 Lo, the vision bright, advances ; 
 
 Very near us are they now ; 
 And the rapture of their glances, 
 
 Sheds a light on either brow. 
 Joy a festival is holding 
 
 On each brightening lip and cheek 
 Now their Avhite arras interfolding 
 
 Seems it as if they would speak 
 
 Wait ! a moment wait ! until I 
 
 Catch the words of that sweet pair ; 
 
 List ! " O, know you not your Lillie ?" 
 " Have you, then, forgotten Clare ?" 
 
CLARE AND LILLIE. 129 
 
 Lillie whispers, " Love to brother, 
 
 Little darling good and true !" 
 Clare says, " Love to sweetest mother ; 
 
 Love, my dearest friends, to you !» 
 Now the twain are upward Avinging, 
 
 Each a beauteous spirit-bird, 
 Sweetest songs, so sweetly singing, 
 
 As no mortal ever heard! 
 6* 
 
SONG OF THE CHILDREN, 
 
 Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 
 
 Ho, ho, ho, ho ! 
 Lu, lu, lu ! hu, hu, hu ! 
 
 Lu, lu, lu, lu ! 
 
 Repletest, with sweetest 
 
 And holiest power, 
 Caressings, and blessings, 
 
 Upon you we shower. 
 Meriily, cheerily. 
 
 Play we our parts ; 
 Loving, improving, 
 
 And gladdening, your hearts. 
 
 Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 
 
 Keep to the chime ; 
 Louder shout, as about 
 
 Whirling in time. 
 
SONG OF THE CHILDREN. 131 
 
 Violette. Mignonette, 
 
 Star-Beam and Mist ; 
 Lily-Bud, Rosengood, 
 
 Bright Amethyst ! 
 
 Ho, ho, ho ! so we go, 
 
 See, as we fly, 
 Beautiful, musical. 
 
 Waters run by. 
 Rivers deep, ever sweep, 
 
 Tunefully sweet. 
 Dashing thus, luminous 
 
 Globes at our feet. 
 
 Fairy-like, airy-like, 
 
 Melodies flow, 
 Such, even, as in heaven 
 
 The Glorified know. 
 The refrain breath again, 
 
 Louder, more clear ! 
 Let it blend, as we bend 
 
 Over you, here. 
 
 Violette, Mignonette, 
 
 Still swifter go ! 
 Lily-Bud, Rosengood, 
 
 Thus let it flow. 
 
132 SONG OF THE CIIILDEEN. 
 
 Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 
 
 Star-Beam and Mist, 
 Trip and sing, jn our ring, 
 
 Bright Amethyst. 
 
 Pebble-stones have their tones, 
 
 Each one its own, 
 Gurgle-glad, murmur-sad, 
 
 Laugh they, or moan ; 
 Beauty-fraught is the thought 
 
 Of the stream's daughters, 
 And they laugh, as they quaff 
 
 Of the bright waters ! 
 
 Mountain-tops, fountain-drops, 
 
 And the rocks rude, 
 Have a speech, that would reach 
 
 To our soul's good ; 
 And the breeze, in the trees, 
 
 Tells ever a tale, 
 As it drops from their tops, 
 
 With a hum, to the vale. 
 
 There 's a power, in each flower, 
 To take from the heart 
 
 Its festering, pestering, 
 Poisonous smart ; 
 
SONG OF THK CHILDKE2f. 133 
 
 And to Still any ill 
 
 That to mortals may come, 
 And, for this, Avould we kiss 
 
 Every beautiful bloom. 
 
 As we sing, see us bring. 
 
 From our Elysian, 
 Wreaths so bright, that they might 
 
 Glad a saint's vision ; 
 Amaranth, Hyacinth, 
 
 Blooms never sere ; 
 Lily-bells, Asphodels, 
 
 Bright through the year ; 
 
 Rejoicing, hi voicmg 
 
 Some hymn, that may tell, 
 Of a plain where no pain, 
 
 For a moment, can dwell ; 
 Where sorrow can harrow 
 
 Remembrance no more, 
 Despairing and caring. 
 
 Forever are o'er ! 
 
 Where joy, no alloy 
 
 Of its glory has shorn, 
 And the rose may rejDOse, 
 
 Unallied to its thorn : 
 
134 SONG OF THE CHILDREN. 
 
 And we children, in wildering 
 Dances, are wliirled, — 
 
 The living, life-giving, 
 
 Sweet flo-wers of this world! 
 
 Mignonette! Violette! 
 
 Star-Beam and Mist ! 
 Rosengood! Lily-Bud! 
 
 Bright Amethyst ! 
 Ha, ha, ha ! la, la, la ! 
 
 Trip it and sing, 
 Ho, ho, ho ! lo, lo, lo ! 
 
 Whirl in our ring ! 
 
 I 
 
TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH. 
 
 God of Heaven ! what a tlirong 
 Of the Beautiful, the Strong, 
 And the glorious Sons of Song, 
 
 Bursts upon my gaze ! 
 What a light is o'er me shed, 
 As thy spirit-courts I tread, 
 And its mazy windings thread ; — 
 
 StUl, the faintest haze 
 Rests upon the radiance bright, 
 So to temporize the light, 
 As to shield my dazzled sight 
 
 From too brilliant rays. 
 
 Now I tread an Ocean-shore 
 Where Thought's billows, evermore. 
 An exalted music pour, 
 
 Thrillingly profound ; 
 
136 TO GEOIIGE SIIEPAKD BURLEIGH. 
 
 With majestic strength replete, 
 White-maned Waves their marches beat, 
 Thundering on with surf-shod feet, — 
 
 Glancmg swiftly round, I, i 
 
 Till some Reason-rock they spy, * 
 
 When, with foam-crest mane tossed high, 
 With a loud exultant cry, 
 
 'Gainst it, wild, they bound ; 
 Stunned to madness by the blow, 
 Backward, as retreating foe. 
 The reluctant coursers go, — 
 
 Making heaven resound 
 Their reverberating neigh, 
 Shaking from their flanks the spray, 
 Scattering, as they haste away, 
 
 Clouds of gems around. 
 
 Now it changes to my view, 
 And the waters, then so blue, 
 Glow with every rainbow hue, 
 
 Gloriously bright ! 
 And they lie as calm and still, 
 With an all-pervading thrill, 
 As if God their deeps did fill 
 
 With excess of Ught ; 
 
TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH, 137 
 
 For ill sudden, fitful gleams, 
 
 Lo, the radiancy streams. 
 
 As the light of heavenly dreams 
 
 Gilds the blackest night. 
 'Neath the ever-changing tide 
 Shoals of silvery fishes glide, 
 Monarchs of the deep beside, 
 
 Kingliest in might. 
 
 Now beneath cerulean skies, 
 Trees of stateliest strength arise, 
 Fruit the rarest, ripest, lies 
 
 Scattered every where : 
 O'er the flower-bespangled ground 
 LoveUest forms are gliding round, 
 To a most be^^itching sound, 
 
 Sweet beyond compare. 
 In the deepening, overhead, 
 Go the stars with regal tread, 
 By their royal Princess led. 
 
 Where Night's monarchs are : 
 Star to stai', now, hear I, calling, . 
 As "wdth brilliancy appalling, 
 From that awful height they 're falling, 
 
 Like a rain of fire ! 
 
138 TO GEORGE SHEPABD BURLEIGH. 
 
 From these burning meshes, fraught 
 With intensest threads of thought, 
 What a fabric might be wrought, 
 
 Than all earth-wefts higher. 
 Arbors of this boundless field 
 Choicest fruits and flowers yield, 
 'Neath its turf there lie concealed 
 
 Gems, and rubies rare ; 
 Brightest birds are o'er it winging. 
 Sweetest carols gayly singing. 
 To thy spirit ever bringing 
 
 Somids, which might inspire 
 Symphonies that could awake 
 Such deep echoes, they should make 
 The vibratmg earth to shake. 
 
 As a wind-swept lyre, 
 
 With a hush-inspiring finger, 
 Evermore I 'd finger, finger 
 Near one most impassioned singer, 
 
 In this glorious choir; 
 Oh, I pray thee Spirit ! pour 
 That entrancing music o'er. 
 Once again, and evermore ! 
 
 Me it Avill inspire. 
 
TO GEORGE SHEPARD BURLEIGH. 139 
 
 With all \'isionings most high, 
 All divinest harmony, 
 All sublimest ecstasy, 
 
 Ever reaching higher, 
 So to clas}) some angel-hancl. 
 Of the blessed, blessing band, 
 In the radiant sjDirit-land, 
 
 To which I aspire I 
 
LIFE'S MYSTERY. 
 
 Lite in its various changes, 
 
 Life in its phases rude, 
 Life in its highest ranges, 
 
 Was never iinderstood ! 
 
 Life, when most staid and quiet, 
 
 Life, when most crowned with good, 
 
 Life, howsoe'er we try it, 
 Was never understood ! 
 
 Life ! over it, forever. 
 
 Will doubt, and darkness brood, 
 To baffle man's endeavor. 
 
 To make it understood. 
 
LIFE'S MYSTERY. 141 
 
 Life ! O, the Life of living, 
 
 Its highest altitude, 
 Must ever be in giving, 
 
 Were it rightly understood. 
 
 Since life's appointed mission, 
 
 For which alone we live, 
 Li high, or low condition, 
 
 Is evermore to give, 
 
 In answer to our giving 
 
 "We evermore receive ; 
 And, gratefully receiving, 
 
 We fruitfully believe. 
 
 Belief is but ascension 
 
 Unto the high and good ; 
 And doubt, a sad detention 
 
 By things ill understood. 
 
 Then grant us patience, Father ! 
 
 Whom many ills enthrall, — 
 For in ourselves we gather 
 
 The sufferings of all. 
 
142 LIFE'S MYSTERY. 
 
 But still as we are nearing 
 
 Those clear, calm, heights, and true, 
 
 Sweet voices are we hearing. 
 And love-lights gild our view. 
 
 Oh, Life of our creation ! 
 
 It were a heaven to us, 
 Could we keep the high relation 
 
 Distinct, harmonious, 
 
 Between the flesh and spirit. 
 And of the soul to thee. 
 
 That the mansions we inherit 
 As thy holy courts may be. 
 
THE JOY OF ACTION. 
 
 Thus beside thee as I linger, 
 
 Angel arms our forms entwine ; 
 Each inspired, lovely singei', 
 
 Chants a hymn of the Divine. 
 Most familiar is their greeting. 
 
 Tenderly they press my hand, 
 All the while the slow time beating. 
 
 With a httle silver wand. 
 
 Seems it as if I were dreaming. 
 
 On a bed of poppies white. 
 Their low singing, and the gleaming 
 
 Of the lithe wand, and the light. 
 Now a most enchanting essence 
 
 Stupifies my every sense. 
 And I feel its witching presence 
 
 Through the dulled nerves' sweet suspense. 
 
144 THE JOY OF ACTION. 
 
 But they go ! tliey are ascending ; 
 
 Oh, sweet souls I half adore, 
 Bless ye, for the many blendmg 
 
 Benisons ye on me shower ! 
 They have left us to each other, 
 
 Wilt thou suffer me to come ? 
 I the flowers of thought will gather 
 
 Blooming in thy spirit home. 
 
 "What a strange, foreboding quiet. 
 
 Seems to rest on all around. 
 Here 's a lakelet, and anigh it 
 
 Bright translucent shells abound, 
 Here are birds that are not singing. 
 
 Fishes, but they do not play, 
 Nothing with swift gladness springing : 
 
 Is it night, or is it day ? 
 Tliat thy soundless mental ocean, 
 
 Like a sheet of silver spread, 
 Lies as listless, without motion, 
 
 As if all its waves were dead, 
 
 Would'st thou rouse thy dormant powers 
 To some action, true and high. 
 
 Startling, from these listless hours, 
 All their blank vacuity, — 
 
THE JOY OF ACTION. 145 
 
 Sought'st thou, with a pure intention, 
 
 Some good pui-jDOse to fulfill, — 
 Drawn to their extremest tension, 
 
 All thy nerves with joy would thrill. 
 Work ! there comes no angel bi'inging 
 
 Deeper peacefulness than he, 
 Joy and health leap upward, singing 
 
 In his regal coznpany. 
 
 Thou art gentle, kind, and loving, 
 
 And thy spirit is serene 
 As the gauzy, white clouds, moving 
 
 'Twixt the azui-e and the green. 
 Need it were baptized in trial ; 
 
 Action should illume the shrine, 
 And the fires of self-denial 
 
 Consecrate it, and refine. 
 
 What a heaven-descended dower 
 
 Those deep sympathies of thine ! 
 Thou should'st guard them, as a power, 
 
 And a fellowship, divine. 
 That will lift thy soul to Heaven, 
 
 Or that Heaven bring down to thee, 
 Where thy thirsting life may lave in 
 
 Floods of conscious Deity. 
 
LOVE'S IMMORTALITY. 
 
 Know, my loved ones, I am Ida : 
 And, that ye might know me well, 
 
 All the eve I stood beside her 
 Who will now my message tell. 
 
 I have lingered in yom* presence, 
 Many a time, before to-night. 
 
 Shedding o'er yom' souls a pleasance, 
 Like a soft, inspiring light. 
 
 As the moonbeams, through the lattice, 
 Will uncertain shadows cast ; 
 
 As a sunlit vapor, that is 
 Like a memory of the past ; 
 
 J 
 
love's immortality. 147 
 
 As the drowsy vail of twilight, 
 
 Shimmering in an eve of Jime ; 
 As a waking love-dream's eye light ; 
 
 As the hidden wild bee's tune ; 
 
 So, through earth-life's sensate curtam, 
 
 Through your misty vision bent, 
 Gleams my j^resence, pale, uncertain, 
 
 Distant-seeming, sweet, but faint ! 
 
 Yet, my arms around you flinging, 
 Long above you have I hung, 
 
 With affection's tendrils clinging 
 Round you, as in life they clung. 
 
 As in life ':' ah ! I am giving 
 Unto Avords an carth-hke hue ; 
 
 Never had I know^i of living 
 
 Till I passed death's portals through ; 
 
 Never known the god-like story 
 
 Of the everlasting soul; 
 The immeasurable glory. 
 
 That its destinies unroll. 
 
148 LOVE'S IMMORTALITY. 
 
 O, my friends ! I scarce know whether 
 Most I love, or most adore, 
 
 This all-loving, holy Father, 
 
 Whose Divine gifts on us shower. 
 
 And I quiver, as I name him, 
 With an ever quick surprise ; 
 
 To my lips come high, acclaiming 
 Plaudits, thrillmg to the skies. 
 
 And there come the clearest ringing, 
 Intertwining notes, that swell 
 
 All around mc, as the cUnging 
 Pulses of a silver bell. 
 
 And a hymning low, and tender, 
 Ovei-flows and floods my soul ; 
 
 Every thought it seems to render 
 Strong, though sweet, in its control. 
 
 I have lingered unbelieving, 
 In the broad, convincing hght ; 
 
 For it seemed like a deceiving 
 Dream of beauty, fleet as bright, 
 
LOVE'S I M M O RT A I. IT Y. 149 
 
 That one spirit, thus, should enter 
 
 To another's mortal home, 
 While that other, from its center, 
 
 Over trackless fields might roam. 
 
 Yet, my friends, while I am speaking 
 Through these tranced lips, to you, 
 
 Their freed spirit journies, seeking 
 Fields the senses never knew. 
 
 This unvails the sweetest mystery 
 Life has lent me, even here, 
 
 This turns prophecy to history, 
 
 Of earth's marriage with our sphere,- 
 
 Your old earth becomes less earthy, — 
 
 Marriage holy and divine. 
 Of whose ritual high and worthy, 
 
 Here behold the living sign ; 
 
 Coming, as the soft caressmgs 
 
 Of a mother's love below, 
 Coming, vnth. the highest blessings 
 
 Which the blest in glory know. 
 
150 L O V Ji' S I M M O K T A L I T Y . 
 
 Ask ye Avhy, amid the pleasures 
 Which are my attendants here, 
 
 My soul seeks to tread the measures 
 That it trod uj^on that sphere ? 
 
 Know, the soul that loves, believing, 
 
 Never loses aught it loves; 
 But, for evermore receiving, 
 
 Ever takes, where'er it roves, 
 The distilled sweets of loving, 
 
 The refined soul of sense ; 
 And the heart grows richer, proving 
 
 Love's repletest competence. 
 
 Therefore, purified, I carry 
 
 All my earth-born tendernesses, 
 
 Thus I still delight to tarry 
 
 'Mid love's flowery wildernesses, 
 
 And in heaven rejoice to many 
 Loving lips, in pure caresses. 
 
THY MOTHER 
 
 A BRIGHT Figure, beaming 
 
 In the rose-light of dreaming, 
 Seems folding us close m embraces of love ; 
 
 Ah, see ! 'tis none other 
 
 Than thy beautiful mother. 
 Bending lovingly down from the silence above. 
 
 Oh, say, canst thou hear her ? 
 
 Come nearer! come nearer! 
 Her tones are so mellow, low, soothing and sweet ; 
 
 Each sense I surrender 
 
 To an influence so tender, 
 And sink in a rajiture of bliss at her feet. 
 
 The tender est blessings, 
 The sweetest caressings 
 That ever a mother on daughter did shower, 
 
152 THY MOTHEK. 
 
 All pure consecrations, 
 All high aspirations, 
 She lavishes on thee, unchanajed with the hour. 
 
 Her love-light will strengthen 
 When dun shadow's lengthen. 
 
 And life's stilly evening succeeds to its noon, 
 "When day, with its hid light, 
 Sinks starless to midnight. 
 
 Her love wiU be o'er thee for j^lanet and moon. 
 
 Her exquisite spirit 
 
 Must surely inherit 
 A home of rich beauty and loveliness rare, 
 
 For, dimly beholding 
 
 Her glorious unfolding, 
 I see a clear flush in the scintillant air. 
 
 And a sense of contrition, 
 
 And lowlier submission 
 Grows strong in my soul with my strengthening faith. 
 
 Oh is it but seeming, 
 
 Illusion and dreaming ? 
 Or have I gone up through the portal-s of death ? 
 
THY MOTHER. 153 
 
 With rapturous singing 
 
 The angels are winging 
 In circles resplendent, or poised in the air ; 
 
 Oh, Infinite Father ! 
 
 From thee I would gather 
 New strength, by new virtue, their glory to hear. 
 
 Oh crucified Meekness, 
 
 Dear Christ ; to my weakness 
 Give Faith as a garment around me to fold. 
 
 And, ever attendant 
 
 These visions resplendan , 
 In the chilly earth air, let my spirit behold. 
 
INVOCATION. 
 
 Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair ! 
 Fondly ye hover round the loved one there, 
 In the stern strife from love and home afar 
 Where the grim legions of the AUen arc ; 
 Yet he beholds not, though ye come so near : 
 Can ye not, spirits, make his vision clear, 
 Lift from his weary hand liis drooping head, 
 And from that breast, to saddened fancies wed. 
 Drive the dark spirit of distrust and woe, 
 And wipe the tears that from his soul's eye flow ? 
 Ye can the Wanderer of his pangs beguile, 
 And light his dim'd eye with a radiant smile. 
 Make his still heavt aloft for joy to spring, 
 And lend old gladness an exultant vnng. 
 Draw the dark future's clinging vail away, 
 And fill his soul with promises of day, 
 
1 X V O C AT I O X. 155 
 
 That he its kindUiig raptures may behold, 
 Pleasures unthought, and ecstasies untold. 
 
 Now as ye wheel in mazy circles round, 
 He starts ! he Ustens ! yes, he hears the sound 
 Of the glad notes your choirs are chantmg now, 
 See, what a glory sits upon his bi-ow ! 
 With what delight are his quick pulses thrilled, 
 With what enchantment is his bosom filled ! 
 Now to the Father — forced no more to roam- 
 In dreams of Heaven his spirit flutters home, 
 Leans on the Saviour in a blissful thought ; 
 With joy we leave him to the spell ye 've wrought. 
 
 Ah, see ! he kneels, he bows in fervent prayer ; 
 To hun, sweet sisters, let us draw more near. 
 Pour a full blessing on his youthful head, 
 And heavenly love like balmy incense shed. 
 As his soul hungers for the joys of heaven, 
 Give him to feel his sins are all forgiven ; 
 Then, as his spirit calmly sleeps in bliss. 
 Just touch its red lips with a parting kiss ; 
 Once more a heartfelt blessing we renew. 
 And turn to leave him with a blithe adieu. 
 
156 INVOCATION. 
 
 Beautiful Spirits, hasten not away ! 
 Leave, leave with me a blessuig too, I pray : 
 And ere the dying of that farewell strain, 
 Promise me. Spirits, to return again. 
 Or that I meet you in the realms of air, 
 Beautiful Spirits, gloriously fair ! 
 
THE SERPENT HORROR. 
 
 Because we have wandered in error, 
 
 The serpent is armed with a sting; 
 And wisdom is clad in the symbols of terror, 
 
 Our souls to their center to bring. e. d. b. 
 
 I WITH pain had wrestled fiercely, 
 Void of slumber, through the night, 
 
 When there came a dream to pierce me 
 Through and through, with wild affright. 
 
 I was walking in a forest, 
 
 In the damp, autunmal year. 
 Where the frost, with touch the sorest, 
 
 Made the leaves look brown and sere ; 
 Wlien, upon a little hillock 
 
 Blooming 'mid the dearth around. 
 Underneath a high and still rock, 
 
 I a Uttle violet found. 
 
168 THE SERPENT HORROR. 
 
 And it nodded O, so quaintly ! 
 
 As I bent above its bloom, 
 Though it seemed to cling more faintly 
 
 To the strength of its perfume. 
 
 And I whispered, " Wherefore hiding 
 
 Thus away from mortal view ?" 
 Oh its glance was so confiding 
 
 From its modest eye of blue, 
 As its golden-crested finger 
 
 It extended towards me, 
 Saying slowly, " Dost thou think a 
 
 Woodland floweret to be 
 One whose longing could be ro\dng 
 
 In the garish light of day ? 
 No, its nature is too lovuig 
 
 From its peaceful home to stray. 
 
 " There are blooms more jjroud and haughty. 
 
 Which in stately grandeur stand. 
 With their brilliant dresses, gaudy, 
 
 Admiration to command ; 
 These have gone to gUd your arbors 
 
 With their glory-blending hues. 
 While this quiet nest still harbors 
 
 The pale violets, which choose 
 
THE SEKPJENT HOBROK. 159 
 
 For their loved and lovely dwelling 
 
 This so deeply sheltered nook, 
 Where I faui would hold thee, tellmg 
 
 Of the hymnings which have broke 
 Round about us, morn and even, 
 
 From kind nature's ministries, 
 Ever giving and receiving 
 
 Fraternizing sympathies." 
 
 I was listening to the flower 
 
 By its low bed seated low, 
 When with fascmating power 
 
 A bright serpent glided slow, 
 From a crevice, and around me 
 
 Flickered with a graceful sweep, 
 And I stirred not, for it bound me 
 
 In the subtle cords of sleep. 
 
 It approached me nearer, nearer, 
 
 With its glossy, glittering coils, 
 Till at length I seemed to hear a 
 
 Sweet voice say, " Escape its toils !" 
 But I could not, from my sleeping. 
 
 Summon strength enough to start. 
 When as hghtning, lightly leaping. 
 
 It fell nestling in my heart ; 
 
160 THE SERPENT HORROR. 
 
 And I felt it twining, twining, 
 
 With its circlets icy cold, 
 And I saw the shining, shining 
 
 Of each tight'ning, clinging fold ; 
 Till with nerve and fiber shrinking 
 
 From the rigor of its grasj). 
 In its fierce embraces sinking, 
 
 Fainter and fainter grew each gasp. 
 
 Seemed the firmament as falling 
 
 In dense blackness to the ground, 
 And a shadoAV, most appallmg, 
 
 Settled upon all around ! 
 Still more tightly did he fold me ! 
 
 Tightly and more tightly still ! 
 And I had not strength to hold me 
 
 In resistance to his wiU ; 
 Till, with terror inly quivering, 
 
 Of its poisonous breath I drank, 
 And it sent a fatal shivering 
 
 Through me, as in death I sank. 
 
 "Was it death ? nay, 't was not dying, 
 But a sinking, soaring, flying, 
 And the furies seemed to goad the 
 Memories of the past, to load me 
 
THE SEKPENT HORKOR. 161 
 
 With tlie dark and scentless flowers 
 Which had sj)rung in noxious bowers, 
 Where, through all the lingering hours, 
 Drizzled dank and poisonous showers ; 
 In each blossom, folded close. 
 Was a serpent's dark repose. 
 And instead of perfumed kisses 
 You but caught a serpent's hisses ! 
 
 Even the trees, around me there, 
 Tall and scaly sei'pents were, 
 Every branch a snaky form, 
 Writhing, hissmg in the storm ! 
 Earth, on which I feared to tread, 
 Seemed a monstrous snake outspread ; 
 Brooks and rivers, and the ocean, 
 Took a twining, sUmy motion ; 
 Ay, the clouds above them all, 
 Changed to serpents, great and small. 
 " Oh, ye heavens !" I shuddering moan, 
 " I too, am a serpent grown. 
 Hissing, twining, coiling, rattling, 
 With the hideous serpents battlmg. 
 Sunk their venomed stings beneath 
 Pray I, Father, give me death !" 
 
162 
 
 THE S K R P E N T H O E R O E . 
 
 To die, to die ! it may not be ; 
 There is no peace but victory ; 
 Then patiently abide the strife, 
 There is no death but only Life ! 
 
 Thou didst forget to call last night 
 Upon thy guardian angel bright. 
 Who hitherto has watched thy sleep, 
 Its dreamings pure and high to keep ; 
 Thy nightly prayer thou didst forget, 
 And, with incautious fingers, let 
 Strange guests into thy spirit come, 
 Thus driving from their sacred home 
 The pure and peaceful thoughts serene — 
 Angels of beauty, who, between 
 Their heaven and thee, have ever kept 
 Sweet intercourse ; and as there swept, 
 Across thy vision, forms so wild, 
 Sweetly the conscious guardians smiled, 
 As, with angelic love and grace. 
 They sought the phantoms to displace. 
 
 In thine own soul the power doth lie 
 To bid each hateful influence fly ; 
 From thine own self the power must come 
 To lighten and refine thy home, 
 
THE SERPENT II O E K O R . 163 
 
 If thou but sjjeak the magic word 
 Whereby the soul's deep founts are sth-red, 
 Light, Love, and Truth, Avill sprmg to birth, 
 With the new Heavens and neAV Earth. 
 
AN ADMONITION. 
 
 With tliy soul is earliest morning, 
 And the dew lies on the ground, 
 
 While a glory, all-adorning, 
 
 From the sun is poured around. 
 
 In thy bosom playful fancies 
 A beguiling sweetness shed. 
 
 As the odors of young pansies 
 'Neath the sportive Fairies' tread. 
 
 Half-blown lilies are revealing 
 Snowy busts in bodice green. 
 
 Buds of tenderest thought and feeling 
 Half-expanded, bloom between. 
 
 Like bright bubbles, gayly flashing 
 On some streamlet as it flows, 
 
 Or as ocean wavelets plashing 
 In the noon of night's repose ; 
 
AN ADMONITION. 165 
 
 As tlio laughing sylphs, advancing 
 
 In their revels, full of glee, 
 "With the flashing billows dancmg 
 
 To the mornmg's melody ; 
 
 As fresh grasses m the meadows, 
 
 As the shadows on the hills, 
 As the twittering of young sparrows, 
 
 As the mcense noon distills ; 
 
 As the breath of blooming clover, 
 
 Glances of red berries bright, — 
 So around, beneath, and over; 
 
 All thy soul is a delight ! 
 
 But I give thee earnest warning 
 
 That its weapons are too fine, 
 Less for conflict than adorning. 
 
 Sterner metal should be thine, 
 
 Fit to strengthen and ennoble 
 
 All the future of thy hfe, 
 Arming for the day of trouble, 
 
 Arming for the day of strife. 
 
^m' 
 
 
 SALUTATION AND CHEER. 
 
 On blame me not, May, that so long I delayed 
 My coming to greet thee ; my footstei^s were stayed 
 By a lingering fear that thou would'st not believe 
 The words I might speak, or it haply might grieve 
 Thy sensitive nature, my Beautiful One ! 
 Yet dearest, believe me, thou art not alone. 
 I linger above thee, by day and by night, 
 I share in thy sorrows, and in thy dehght. 
 
 There are times when my presence has over thee thro^vn 
 An influence of sweetness thou canst not diso^vn. 
 There are times when I hold thee within my embrace, 
 And gaze, as at first, on thy love-lighted face : 
 There are times when old feelings within thee are stirred 
 Till thou thrillest with rapture, my beautiful Bird ! 
 
SALUTATION AND CHEER, 167 
 
 Be patient, be hopeful, let what will betide ; 
 There are spirits of beauty who walk by thy side. 
 I will come to thee, Mary, will over thee bend 
 As a guardian angel, thy steps to attend ; 
 Bright joy to thy life I will evermore bring. 
 And aye to my strength shall thy gentleness cling. 
 
 Then deem it no weakness to cherish a love 
 
 For thy young heart's betrothed, though his home be 
 
 above, 
 To live in the bhss of his loving caresses, 
 For thee with delight he embraces and blesses. 
 May love, joy, and peace, bo the crown of thy life, 
 And death bring my Mary, my darling, my wife ! 
 
TO PROFESSOR 
 
 Yet once again, most joyfully, I come 
 
 Within the circle of thy soul's high home. 
 
 Again I bend, my sjjirit-brow to lave 
 
 In healing waters from the crystal wave 
 
 Of thy deep ocean of exalted thought, 
 
 With power-inspiring power as richly fraught 
 
 As the famed pool Bethesda could have been, 
 
 Save when the influence of the Nazarene 
 
 Rested upon it. Still dwells with thee such 
 
 Blessed divinity of angel touch, 
 
 As, in its worth, might almost rival, even 
 
 That which adorned the glorious Son of Heaven, 
 
 For as Heaven's Son we ever recognize 
 
 The lowly Jesus, — though our spirit eyes 
 
 See other sons of Heaven, less good, less pure, 
 
 Less perfect, yet as willing to endure 
 
TO PEOFESSOR . 169 
 
 The martyi'dom of suffering and of shame, 
 That comes to all who dare assmne a name 
 Which the false years presumptuously condemn, — 
 The mocking years, how not, my soul, to them ' 
 Bigots and tyrants, fell and treacherous, 
 Forever cry " Ye shall not rule o'er us !" — 
 To the pure spirits, who, with holiest love, 
 Their wicked, sensual, selfish deeds reprove. 
 Redeemers, Saviours, we ne'er recognize, 
 Until the mission of their high emprise 
 Hath been perfected, then, the blind may see, 
 Clustering about them, their Divinity. 
 
 My spirit-brother ! Shall I call thee such ? 
 Emboldened by the sweet, inspiring touch 
 Of thy soul's finger, seeming to impart 
 Sublimest teachings to my kindling heart, 
 Thrilling my lips as with celestial fire, 
 Awakening in me aspirations, higher 
 And holier, than aijy I have caught 
 From lips, unless by inspiration fraught, 
 Thy fleshly raiment now is rent away, 
 I see thee all divested of thy clay. 
 And read thy spirit, as I read a book ; 
 Through all its inmost mysteries I look. 
 8 
 
170 TO PROFESSOR . 
 
 As sparkling bubbles on a limpid stream, 
 In the soft moonlight beautifully gleam, 
 Or as the wavelets on the ocean's blue, 
 With silvery gleamings, fascinate the view, 
 As sportive sylphs, by their bewitcliing dance 
 O'er the bright waters, every eye entrance, 
 Along its course thy Ufe-stream ever glides, 
 Watering the simplest herbage by its sides. 
 Foam-wreaths of Fancy, o'er its surface fly. 
 Feeling's fair liUes in the sunbeams lie. 
 Meandering now through blooming meadows fair, 
 Where spring the flowers of science, rich and rare, 
 Through forest thick, where Wisdom's stately trees. 
 Lift their high branches to the swelling breeze ; 
 Anon through valleys shady, quiet, low, 
 Mid thirsty plants and hungry roots to flow ; 
 Then on a fruitful, far-extending plain. 
 It spreads its bosom to the sun and rain. 
 That it may give the healing draught again 
 To thirsty mortals, who, devoid of sight. 
 Walk blindfold, ever groping for the light. 
 
 Wliat a strange study is thy soul to me ; 
 Simple and clear, yet full of mystery, 
 A subtle link ruiites it to a mesh 
 Of half instinctive, half i-eflecting flesh ; 
 
TO PROFESSOR . IVI 
 
 Yet is the tie so subtle and so slight, 
 They stand apart, dissevered in my sight. 
 If, on thy actual hand, or heart, or brow, 
 I place my actual hand, as I do now. 
 An answering throb, in unison most clear, 
 Gives an assurance thou art of this sphere ; 
 But if my spirit hand I clasp with thine, 
 The inspiration makes us both divine. 
 And in a circle, sweeping far above 
 Earth's narrow limits, hand in hand we rove, 
 Through most transcendent, glorious abodes. 
 Into the presence of the God of gods! 
 And feel our spirits sweetly harmonize, 
 In all perfections growing great, and wise. 
 
FORESHADOWINGS. 
 
 Though I know thou art not seeking 
 For the things I now rehearse, 
 
 Yet am I impelled to speaking, 
 And the utterance comes in verse. 
 
 Thou art formed for highest uses, 
 
 Though, upon thy mental skies, 
 Hang the clouds of dark abuses, 
 
 Hindering the sweet sunrise 
 Of that Faith, which should enUghten 
 
 All the future, to thy tread, 
 While the stars of Hope that brighten, 
 
 Melt in glory over head ! 
 
 For I feel this strong assurance, 
 That within thy noble heart 
 
 Bum the fires of true endurance. 
 That to others might impart 
 
FORES H ADO WINGS. lYS 
 
 Strength to conquer the conspiring 
 
 Enemies of Truth and Right ; 
 Courage, faith, and love refiring 
 
 At thy own heart's altar-light. 
 
 Tenderly the dawn reposes 
 
 On thy spirit beauty-crowned, 
 And the breath of full-blown roses 
 
 Sheds their fragrances around. 
 Reason's oaks, with strength majestic, 
 
 Stand hke marshaled sentinels. 
 Casting shadows, most fantastic, 
 
 Over all the flowery deUs, 
 
 Now their leaves, in blithe carousing. 
 Dance, and drink the dew-drops rare. 
 
 And anon, hang, faintly drowsing. 
 In the incense-freighted air. 
 
 Noble cities, grand and stately, 
 With full many a teeming mart, 
 
 Mountains towering up sedately — 
 Nature's wonder-works of art ; 
 
174 F O K E S H A 1) O W I N G S . 
 
 Every tiling iii earth, air, ocean, 
 
 I have seen reflected here, 
 In minute, but just .proportion, 
 
 Forming an harmonious sphere, 
 Where thy sun, with perfect glory. 
 
 O'er a cloudless noon shall shine. 
 And fleet angels bear the story 
 
 Of the morning's birth divine. 
 
 Oh, I hear their gladsome singing, 
 
 See them with bright garlands crowned. 
 While the vaulted heavens are ringmg 
 
 With the rapture-pealing soimd. 
 See the countless millions gather ! 
 
 Oh, I shudder, shiver, sink ; 
 Shelter ! save me. Heavenly Father ! 
 
 Still, forbid me not to drink 
 From these waters of the Elysian, 
 
 On whose liills, of broader scope, 
 To my soul's anointed vision. 
 
 Scenes of deeper glory ope ; 
 Giving those intense revealings. 
 
 Which the sight can scarce endure ; 
 Consecrating all my feelings. 
 
 With a baptism high and pure. 
 
FORESHADOWINGS. 175 
 
 Seems as from me lite Avere fleeing, 
 
 God's effulgence so doth fill 
 Every inlet of my being, 
 
 With an all-pervading thrill. 
 
 Dearest Father ! thou hast told me 
 
 We were of Thyself a part ; 
 Oh, then, as an infant, fold me 
 
 Near to thy sustaining heart ; 
 Still permitting that I cherish 
 
 This sweet vision ; let it stay 
 As a ray that can not perish, 
 
 Dawn of thy eternal Day. 
 
EIVAL CLAIMS. 
 
 Never knew I harp so changing 
 As this spirit lyi-e of thine, 
 
 Now, where angel hands are ranging, 
 Now where fingers less di-^dne. 
 
 Here a tone of triumph talcing, 
 Self-reUant, calm, and strong ; 
 
 There Avith terror weakly shaking, 
 Pouring a complaining song. 
 
 Strangest discord quivers through it ; 
 
 Thrills a harmony sublime ; 
 Loving spnpathies subdue it 
 
 To a loving, tender, chime. 
 
RIVAL CLAIMS. 177 
 
 Now imbued with deepest sadness, 
 
 Then with passionate desire, 
 Soon, intoxicating gladness, 
 
 Vibrates on the tremblmg wire. 
 
 O, 'tis piteous ! thus to squander 
 
 An inheritance so high, 
 Thus to vacillate, and wander, 
 
 'Twixt the lights of fen and sky. 
 
 Learn to prize the liberal treasure 
 In thy deep heart slumbering, 
 
 Tune thy lyre to some fixed measure, 
 Some star-centered rhythm sing. 
 
 Maiden, blushing the confession 
 Of the virtues in thy breast, 
 
 "With thy womanly expression 
 In the sweetest accents dressed: 
 
 In thy gentle nature blending 
 Every captivating grace, 
 
 And the rival charms, contending 
 In thy ever-changing face, 
 8* 
 
178 RIVAL CLAIMS. 
 
 Thou art regal as a queen is. 
 And withal as rich a dower ; 
 
 Would'st thou teach thy heart sereneness, 
 Then were thine a queenly power. 
 
 Then arouse thee, gentle sister ! 
 
 Life is far too brief an hour 
 For our souls to dwarf its vista, 
 
 By the wasting of a flower. 
 
 Rival crowns I see before thee 
 One of pure and true desire, 
 
 One, if once it glitters o'er thee. 
 It shaU cling like chemic fire. 
 
 Take the star-cro-^vn of the Father; 
 
 Spurn the tempter's diadem ; 
 And thy coming days shalT gather 
 
 Power and Peace, perfecting them. 
 
SUPPLICATION. 
 
 TO LIZZIE. 
 
 A MOTHER is bending, with love-light descending, 
 From her sunny, sweet face, o'er a daughter as fair ; 
 
 And oft, in extreme night, her touch will the dream 
 hght 
 That cheers her in slumber, or lightens her care. 
 
 With hohest feeling, that mother is kneeling 
 In prayer without ceasing, effectual, deep ; 
 
 Some gentle revealing, at times, must be stealing 
 O'er the heart of her daughter, if only in sleep. 
 
 Oh, yes ! I behold now, a hght on her cold brow, 
 That lends a conviction my vision is sure, 
 
 Oh then, ever careful, be watchful, and prayerful, 
 To heed well a guidance so loving and pure. 
 
180 SUPPLICATION. 
 
 Her spirit hath cro^vTied thee with strength, that around 
 thee 
 Hath kindled a light, in thy darkness so drear. 
 Oh, heed then, her warning ; be the noon to thy morn- 
 ing 
 Effulgent in beauty, in purity clear. 
 
 Let no sin of omission, no deeds for contrition, 
 Between her pure spirit and thy spirit come ; 
 
 But ever as now, bear untarnished thy brow, 
 
 And may souls of the pure ever hallow thy home. 
 
THE HEALING GIFT, 
 
 Spirit of spirits! Mind supreme of mind, 
 He did at first a fadeless laurel bind 
 Around thy spirit's pure transparent brow, 
 Lending all sweet perennial flowers that blow, 
 For thy green chaplet, full of odors sweet. 
 And with all healing potences replete. 
 
 Yes ! it is true, thou did'st the power receive 
 Largely, all pain and anguish to relieve. 
 Controlling all the demons of disease. 
 While prescient sufferers eagerly would seize 
 Thy healing hand, upon their hearts to press, 
 Taking new vigor from its soft caress. 
 
 Behold, sweet sister ! see anear thee stand 
 A shining angel with a silvery wand ; 
 
182 THE HEALING GIFT. 
 
 Slowly he waves it over earth and sea, 
 Then gently lays the crystal point on thee, 
 With touch resistless in its strong control, 
 Nerving the feeblest purpose of thy soul. 
 
 Still more impressive grows the heavenly scene 
 By the bright presence of the Nazarene, 
 In whom, supreme the healing gift was found ; 
 His glorious brow with martyrdom is crowned, 
 And, kindly bending from the calm above. 
 He folds thee closely in his arms of love ! 
 
 Prize of thy generous heart and lofty deed. 
 Thine is the sacred gift, the exalted meed, 
 Some soothing cordial on each wound to pour. 
 Some healing balm, for every suffering hour 
 That earth's afficted sons are doomed to know. 
 In their wide wanderings through this vale of woe. 
 
 Sad hearts are gladdened by thy cheering tones. 
 As the lone widow, by Maria's son's ; 
 Fulfill thy mission, wearying though it be, 
 Jesus himself shall walk the path with thee ; 
 Angels of love on all thy steps attend, 
 And pitying souls their sweetest succor lend. 
 
THB HEALING GIFT. 183 
 
 Guard, as the fortress of thy sacred wealth, 
 The priceless remnant of that shattered health; 
 Keep all thy steps with vigilance and care, 
 In even hands the healing cnp to bear, 
 That so, pure soul to pure clay be allied, 
 So bj- its God the Fane be sanctified ! 
 
TO G. S. B. 
 
 Poet and Brother, loved and honored, more 
 
 Than thy heart counts amid its treasured gains, 
 Stint not, oh Prophet Bard ; thy soul to pour 
 
 Even on barren fields, like Autumn rains : 
 Thou might'st have built a throne where, long before, 
 
 Fame would have sat, amid the echoing strains 
 Of thy own harp ; had'st thou, more world-wise, sung 
 
 Some mouthing Patriot's eulogistic rhyme, 
 Some high-born dame's or maiden's praises rung. 
 
 As a lithe trifler trolled an idle chime. 
 Or, with less zeal of earnest passion, felt 
 
 Thy gift's high sanctity, and at random thrown 
 Truths taught by Nature, where thy spirit knelt, 
 
 But even yet, proud Fame shall claim thee as her 
 own! 
 
NELL. 
 
 As a full blown orange-flower, 
 
 As a pure white lily-bell, 
 As a dark eye's matchless power, 
 
 Art thou, O most beauteous Nell ! 
 
 As the whisperings of the twilight, 
 As the wavelet's gentle swell. 
 
 As the mysteries of the midnight, 
 Art thou, O mysterious Nell ! 
 
 As a bright-lipped Fairy-maiden, 
 Dancing o'er a flowery dell, 
 
 "With all witching fancies laden. 
 Art thou, O bewitching Nell ! 
 
186 NELL. 
 
 As the fresh breath of the morning, 
 As the fulhiesses, that dwell 
 
 In the noontide's rich adorning, 
 Art thou, O most glorious Nell 1 
 
 As the sweet hymn of a blossom, 
 As a soft-toned silver bell. 
 
 As the incense-freighted bosom 
 Of the rose, art thou, dear NeUI 
 
 As the winking of bright star-beams, 
 The strange histories they tell, 
 
 The reveahngs of our rare dreams. 
 Ever art thou, dreamy Nell ! 
 
 Eve, the poets paint so queenly. 
 In her beauty, ere she fell. 
 
 Even when reigning most serenely, 
 Scarce could rival thee, bright Nell ! 
 
 Ripplings of the moon-lit ocean. 
 Sunbeams in a crystal well. 
 
 Every tranced, trancing motion, 
 Images my graceful Nell ! 
 
18? 
 
 Oh, the witchery of thy glances, 
 
 Of thy red Ups matchless spell, 
 Of the light and shade, that dances 
 
 O'er thy face, thou saucy Nell I 
 
 So entrancing is thy beauty, 
 
 Thou hast learned its power well, 
 
 'Tis with me no pleasant duty 
 
 Thus to warn thee, thoughtless N-ell ! 
 
 Fate with tempting charms hath crowned thee, 
 
 Subtle as the airs of hell, 
 Poisonous fruits lie all around thee, 
 
 Periling thy peace, dear Nell ! 
 
 'Gainst the sorcery of their power, 
 
 Thy pure nature must rebel. 
 Banish, from this very hour. 
 
 Then: sad influence, gleeful Nell ! 
 
 Won, by woman, down from Heaven, 
 
 Poets sing, that angels fell, — 
 Blameless, had their charmers, even 
 
 Half thy glory, queenly Nell ! 
 
188 
 
 Beauty challenges devotion, 
 
 Proudest homage to compel, 
 Consciousness in every motion 
 
 Marks thy dangerous triumph, Nell* 
 
 There 's a moral in my love-song ; 
 
 Would its influence might dispel 
 From thy soul, the thoughts that strove long 
 
 To beguile thee, charmmg Nell ! 
 
 O'er thy triumph's hour is ringing 
 
 Time's remediless farewell ! 
 Purer raptures should be springing 
 
 In thy bosom, conquering Nell ! 
 
 Thovi my memory hast treasured. 
 
 That has given me the spell 
 By which I thy thoughts have measured ; 
 
 Pardon ! and still love me, Nell ! 
 
A SPIRIT-MOTHER'S PRAYER. 
 
 TO H. H. DAY. 
 
 'Tis thy mother ! and she presses 
 
 Her -white hand upon thy head ; 
 Pure the light of her caresses, 
 
 As the perfume roses shed. 
 Clasped are those hands in prayer. 
 
 As in earnest, pleading tone 
 She beseeches, 
 
 " Have a care 
 
 God almighty for my son, 
 Let thy blessing, dearest Father, 
 
 Ever fondly on hun rest ; 
 Strength and courage may he gather 
 
 From each trial ; to thy breast 
 Father, clasp him, and thy love 
 
 As a mantle round him folding, 
 Shield him from the hungry drove — • 
 
 Foes that, even now, are holding 
 
190 A SPIRIT-MOTHER'S PRAYER. 
 
 Revels in their secret chambers, 
 
 In the castle-holds of wrong : 
 May Truth's sunlight, as it clambers 
 
 To the roottree, be more strong 
 Than the falsehoods that would -wrestle 
 
 From the wronged the right away ; 
 May the dove of promise nestle 
 
 In his heart of hearts, alway ! 
 
 " "Well I know he will not palter, 
 
 Pledged he stands for truth and right ; 
 Well I know he will not falter 
 
 In the thickest of the fight. 
 But, oh Father, dearest Father ! 
 
 Most unequal is the strife, 
 See'st thou not how thickly gather 
 
 Clouds vindictive, tempest-rife ; 
 Will they not, ere long, come breaking 
 
 Over his beloved head ? 
 Day by day the storm is waking 
 
 To fresh anger, and its tread 
 Booms as heavy as the thunder, 
 
 And its glance of vengeful ire, 
 As when lightning darts from under 
 
 Thickest blackness, flashes fire ! 
 
A SPIRIT-MOTHEE'S PRAYER. 191 
 
 " Father keep him, oh, I pray thee 
 
 Let his faith and love endure ; 
 Let his strength still as his day be, 
 
 God thy promises are sure : 
 Thou hast said that thou would'st take him 
 
 Under thy especial care, 
 And I know thou 'It not forsake him 
 
 Yet, oh hear a mother's prayer. 
 
 " 'Tis in vam I seek to smother 
 
 This too apprehensive love ; 
 Oh ! forgive, forgive a mother 
 
 If, for such a son, she prove 
 Sometimes mindless of our other. 
 
 Sterner duties, in her care 
 That this unrelenting pother 
 
 Scourge him not to flat despair, 
 Scourge him as the angry ocean 
 
 Scourges the resoundhig shore; 
 Oh, amid each wild commotion 
 
 God protect him evermore !" 
 
A VISION. 
 
 Just as my spirit left its clay, this eve, 
 
 And darkness settled down ; 
 And my whole being seemed dissolved in air, — 
 Thrilled on my spirit ear a music-strain 
 Soothing and sweet, and on its mellow weaves 
 There came faint gleamings of the whitest light, 
 
 Pervading all my thought-sky. 
 Star after star, came leaping with glad smiles. 
 Into this realm of song, and all the heavens 
 With glory -beaming brightness were aglow ! 
 In this effulgence, kindred to the light, 
 
 Or as it were the light. 
 
 The music rose and fell ; 
 Now soaring to profound sublimities. 
 Anon to all sweet cadences descending. 
 Instinct with life, it seemed, and bore me \ip, 
 
A visioisr. 193 
 
 On its irradiant, v/hite wings, 
 Into the realms of perfectness and peace ; 
 How shall I speak that pei-fectness and peace ! 
 
 Wrapped all around, and as it were. 
 Steeped, in their most ethereal influences. 
 My spirit, dripping with the honied dews 
 Of their delight, hung paralyzed with bliss, 
 
 Incapable of motion. 
 Life's sparkling beaker to the brim was filled. 
 
 Its foamy bubbles, breaking. 
 
 Scattered their fragrant spray. 
 
 Like incense over me. 
 Oh, God ! the quick delight that flashed upon me, 
 Flooding my spirit as with a sea of glory. 
 Illuminating all its inmost depths 
 With light's intensity ! Had not my senses 
 Slept in the death-clasp of a clinging spell 
 That held them in embraces strong as steel, 
 Th^s glory had consumed all earthly life. 
 I fioate • in an atmosphere of prayer, 
 Each r ;piration was an inspiration ! 
 Delici s dreamings, visions of delight, 
 I couh have lingered in your beams forever ! 
 
 Then I felt a hand on mine. 
 Seemed it as the touch of thine, 
 
194 A VISION. 
 
 And I straightway turned to see 
 What thy questioning might be ; 
 'T was Lucinda's gentle face, 
 'T was her sisterly embrace. 
 
 Then a curtaining silence fell, 
 And embraced us in its spell. 
 And her arm was round me thrown, 
 As a strong protecting zone ; 
 And I nestled still more near 
 Her sweet bosom, filled with fear. 
 
 Motion I in vam essayed. 
 
 All my being shrunk dismayed. 
 
 At the splendor hanging o'er her, 
 
 Cold, as the pale Odorata 
 
 Hangs at midnight o'er the wave. 
 
 But her heart beat " stout and brave. 
 
 " Wherefore timid spirit, now, 
 Should'st thou shrink, and tremble so 
 Filled with joy thy soul should be, 
 Chaistning bends in love o'er thee ; 
 See ! he beckons thee away, 
 Hasten, hasten, to obey !" 
 
-v^ 
 
 A VISION. 
 
 195 
 
 With a gladsome, sweet surprise, 
 Lifted I my drooping eyes, 
 Unto Ms ; in either one 
 Flashed there such a bhnding sun, 
 That beneath their lids, in pain, 
 Mine concealed themselves again. 
 
 " Now his glory is more dim, 
 Thou canst look undaz'd on him." 
 Lucy said. I looked, and lo ! 
 Such a rapture lit his brow, 
 Such a heavenly halo shed 
 Sweetest luster o'er his head, 
 That my owm I meekly bent. 
 As a mm before her saint. 
 
 Then he took my hand in his. 
 Oh, of all the memories 
 That I cherish, of the past, 
 This shall Imger, till the last, 
 O'er my future like a star. 
 Sorrow can not dim, nor mar ! 
 
 Gentle daughter !" whispered he. 
 Thou shalt, as I come to thee. 
 
196 A VISION. 
 
 See this light about thee shine ; 
 Of my presence 'tis the sign. 
 In the future I will come 
 Often, to thy earthly home. 
 
 " And in sorrow, pain, or care, 
 
 Or when evil lays its snare, — 
 
 In thy every trial hour. 
 
 Thou shalt feel the soothing power 
 
 My protection can impart, 
 
 To support, and cheer thy heart. 
 
 " I have loved thee, maiden mild ! 
 Since that evening, when a child, 
 Timid as a fa,wn, and wild. 
 Artless, and as undefiled, 
 In thy young simplicity. 
 Thou a lesson taught'st to me.'' 
 
 Then, adown the heavens bended, 
 And a fiery ball descended, 
 As the moon appears at times. 
 When the eastern hill she cUmbs, 
 "With her garments, ciirason red. 
 O'er the misty orient spread. 
 
A VISION. 197 
 
 Thus intensely luminous 
 Fell the ball, till near to us ; 
 Just above his head it broke, 
 And involved him in a smoke, 
 Thin, and clear, and silvery bright, 
 As a vapor, fleecy white. 
 
 Round and round him it did twine. 
 Hid his matchless form divine, 
 As a vail of silky gauze ; 
 And amid the breathless pause 
 That succeeded our amaze, 
 Slow he faded from our gaze. 
 
 Then, such strains of music, burst, 
 As through Paradise, of erst. 
 When transcendent echoes rang 
 To the birth-song angels sang, 
 Of creation's natal mom. 
 Ere a soul in clay was born. 
 
 Louder, clearer, came the swell ; 
 As the sea, it lose and fell. 
 Each succeeding wave more vast. 
 More controlling^ than the last. 
 
198 
 
 'Till beyond endurance, blest, 
 Upon Lucy's sheltering breast 
 Sank I, as a babe to rest. 
 
 " Let me linger here !" I cried 
 " Oh Lucinda, I have tried, 
 Long enough, the walks of life ; 
 Shelter ! save me ! from the strife 
 Of affliction, toil, and care, 
 My attendants, every where !" 
 
 " Dearest child ! it may not be ; 
 Go, fulfill thy destiny ! 
 Blessings, clustering around. 
 Give thee wealth but seldom found ; 
 ToU, and cross, and shame, abide ! 
 Triumph waits the crucified. 
 
THE NEW REVELATION. 
 
 Feom highest Heaven a spirit voice, to-night, 
 Speaks to my soul, in accents fine and clear, 
 List for a moment, gentle friends, and hear 
 
 The tones come, fluttering as the boreal Hght ; 
 And now I catch the burden of the theme. 
 
 " Rejoice, that earth beholds a better day, 
 
 And heaven is opened through a surer way 
 Than flitting shadows, and imperfect dream. ! 
 
 Ye hear the whispers of the Angel-band, 
 "With God himself ye hold communion high, 
 
 And feel the consecration of his hand. 
 The inspiration of his cloudless eye ! 
 
 Oh, be ye faithful, ye who are beUeving, 
 
 Perfect your spirits for more full receiving." 
 
SECRET WORTH. 
 
 Theie choicest odors will the roses keep ; 
 
 Their brightest beauties in vailed bosoms cling ; 
 The drowsy minstrels, love-lured, nestle deco, 
 
 Unseen and tuneful in their hearts to sing : 
 Clothed in a language few can comprehend, 
 
 Their sacred hymnings cunningly they pc ', 
 They best interpret who in reverence bend, 
 
 Learning by love mysterious Nature's loi . 
 
 Rivers that move with calm and stately motion, 
 
 And lesser streams that bear them company 
 To the unfathomable depths of ocean. 
 
 Vail half their glories from the common eye. 
 From lordly oaks that skirt the mountain's brow, 
 
 To the green cedars of the shady vale. 
 Through each and all, sublimest meanings flow, 
 
 Each hath its lore occult, and mystic tale. 
 
SECRET WORTH. 201 
 
 And soiils of noble strain alone may read 
 The lessons folded in their secret core ; 
 
 Thus of our souls, heroic thought and deed, 
 With reverent love, command the firmest door. 
 
 Like a sweet rose-bud doth thy sj^irit seem, ' 
 
 Not half its perfume, half its charms revealed ; 
 As the arbutus in dry leaves will gleam. 
 
 Betrayed by incense when the most concealed. 
 I know that thou art beautiful right well, 
 
 Though but the image of thy soul I see, 
 But such a soul must permeate its shell 
 
 With light-floods, refluent for intensity. 
 Then, Lady ! seek not from true hearts to hide 
 
 The charms that make thee blessed upon earth ; 
 For such the loftiest bards have glorified. 
 
 And lowliest hearts grow gladdened in theii- worth. 
 
 9* 
 
X 
 
 THE DEAD BABY. 
 
 A SPIRIT api^roached me I knew not before 
 Who sang me this lay of the baby she bore. 
 
 " This child in my bosom, but yesterday hung 
 On the breast of its mother, who joyfully sung 
 Such sweet baby-lays, that the seraphs above 
 Hung o'er the blest twain, m the transjjorts of love. 
 The child raised its eyes to the jubilant band, 
 And with gleeful surprise it threw up its white hand 
 "With a beckoning gesture, as if it would fain 
 "Woo the beautiful beings on earth to remain. 
 
 " Then they hovered stiU neai'er the mother and son, 
 So near that the child caught their low under-tone. 
 A moment, all motionless over the pair. 
 They hung in a silence, profound as the pray'r 
 A dying saint offers, unuttered, to God, 
 Ere his rapt spirit liies to the blissful abode. 
 
THE DEAD BABY. 203 
 
 " Then, fleet as the Ughtning, a seraph most fair, 
 
 With wings ever brightening, as through the hvished air 
 
 She glided, came down to the baby, so near, 
 
 She Avhispered a mystical word in his ear ; 
 
 Then the rose on his cheek grew as white as the snow. 
 
 His pouting red lips lost their rich, ruddy glow ; 
 
 O'er the love-beaming eyes the veined lids closed, 
 
 His dimpled hands folded, as if he reposed. 
 
 Unbroken the vigil that mother still keeps. 
 
 As she thinks, how profoundly her little one sleeps ! 
 
 " Oh, bUssful young mother ; alas ! for the joy. 
 
 The pride, hope, and love, centered all m thy boy ! 
 
 The soft, tmy hand, thy warm fingers enfold. 
 
 To ivory stiffening, grows ivory cold. 
 
 She bent her quick ear, his low breathing to hear, 
 
 Oh God ! how she shook with a shivermg fear ! 
 
 No sweet coming breath, from his lips, met her own, 
 
 And the Httle plump cheek was as cold as a stone ! 
 
 The blood to her heart shuddered back mth a bound. 
 
 And she sank, a new Niobe, smote to the ground. 
 
 " Oh, blissful reprieve, from the swift-coming woes ! 
 Too soon, yet too soon, from that trance she arose, 
 Locked around her dead babe, firm as steel is her grasp. 
 In vain is the struggle her hands to unclasp. 
 
204 THE DEAD E A B Y . 
 
 She hears not, she sees not, she deigns no replies, 
 But frantic, and wild, are her heart-rending cries. 
 
 " ' I will not believe it ! this can not be death ! 
 He is sleeping, sweet baby ! I hear his low breath ; 
 See, how closely he presses his cheek to my breast ; 
 Oh, do not, I pray you, disturb his calm rest ! 
 Hard-hearted ! ye never shall pile the cold clod, 
 'Twixt my baby and me, oh ! forbid it my God!' 
 
 " Poor, grief-stricken mother, 'tis Avell, for the day, 
 That thy senses, bewildered, should wander away. 
 But when they return, may they gladden, to hear 
 The voice of thy darling sing clear, from the sphere, 
 "Where, crowned with Immortelles, and vestured in 
 
 Avhito, 
 He walks with light ange'.s, an angel of light !" 
 
VIRGIN ISLAND. 
 
 Afar in the west is a sunny isle 
 
 That is only lighted by Woman's smile ; 
 
 In all its bound may no man be found, 
 
 And to woman's voice replies no sound, 
 
 But of singing birds, and the minstrelsy 
 
 Of swinging boughs in the forests free, — 
 
 Of gurgling brooks, and the rippling rills, 
 
 And hymns of sweet flowers on sunny hills, — 
 
 And glossy blades of the laughing gi-ass 
 
 Kissing our feet as we softly pass, — 
 
 And wood-nymphs, by Zephyr borne, bending above 
 
 The Ocean's blue surges, wooing the love 
 
 Of beautiful sylphs, who gambol and play 
 
 With the foam-crested waves, or lovingly lay 
 
 Their frolicsome heads on the white billows breast, 
 
 Whose low, hushing lullaby, soothes them to rest. 
 
206 VIRGIN ISLAND. 
 
 And O, in this Isle of the Lily and Rose, 
 All crimson-lipped joys fold their wings in repose ; 
 And could I but burst my flesh-fetters I 'd soar 
 On pinions of light to this sweet Island shore, 
 With gay gladsome spirits to frolic and sing. 
 Where Winter ne'er darkens our life's joyous Spring ! 
 But man may not enter this bright Isle, so you 
 May as well make your bow; with respect sir — adieu. 
 
PHANTASY. 
 
 " TiNy Acorn" 
 
 Was the first born 
 Of the friendship felt for thee; 
 
 Then the proud oak 
 
 Still more loud spoke 
 To thy inmost soul of me. 
 
 Gentle Lady, 
 
 I conveyed thee 
 Many thoughts thou lovest well, 
 
 And have brought thee 
 
 Every thought free, 
 Fit to hold thee by their spelL 
 
 Life's hard lesson 
 Finds expression 
 In the rippling of thy rhymes, 
 
208 PHANTASY. 
 
 As a river, 
 Flowing ever, 
 To all mingling, tingling chimes. 
 
 Somewhat mazy, 
 
 Somewhat crazy. 
 Was I in that lower sphere ; . 
 
 It would weary, 
 
 Should I tarry 
 For an explanation here. 
 
 In the dead light 
 
 Of the midnight, 
 I have sought thee as thou slept ; 
 
 When the gleamings 
 
 Of bright dreamings 
 Have across thy bosom swept ; 
 
 Thou 'St not known me 
 Though I 've shown thee 
 
 Clear as light, the name I bore, 
 When a Wanderer, 
 Weary Wanderer, 
 
 On time's uncongenial shore. 
 
I'll A NT A ST. 209 
 
 To the serious, 
 
 How mysterious 
 Are these inspirations high ; 
 
 I have Ustened, 
 
 While tears glistened, 
 Even in my spirit eye ; 
 
 Not for sadness, 
 
 But deep gladness, 
 That, from out this tangled mesh 
 
 Of confusing. 
 
 Harshly bruising 
 Chains, and fetters of the flesh, 
 
 The pure soul, at 
 
 Last, the goal had 
 Found, through death's tartarean gloom ; 
 
 And the aurora 
 
 Of Life's morrow 
 Burst resplendent from the tomb. 
 
 Oh surrender 
 
 Every tender, 
 Lofty, feeling of thy soul. 
 
 Each upspringing 
 
 Fancy, winging 
 Onward to this glorious goal. 
 
210 PHANTASY. 
 
 Brighter beauties 
 
 Higher duties, 
 Will the future bring to thee. 
 
 Oh, be careful, 
 
 Watchful, prayerful, 
 Thus to keep thy spirit free. 
 
 Thou art twinmg 
 
 Of this rhyming 
 A bright amaranthine wreath, 
 
 Pure and fadeless. 
 
 As the shadeless 
 Flowers beyond the shores of death. 
 
 Radiating 
 
 Consecrating 
 Odors pure, and high, and good. 
 
 Near the Father 
 
 Thou shalt gather 
 Heavenly manna for thy food. 
 
 I, a maker, 
 
 Am partaker 
 Of the feeUngs that have thrilled 
 
 Thy mind-ocean 
 
 With emotion. 
 That has all its ripples stilled. 
 
PHANTASY. 211 
 
 And I linger 
 Near each singer, 
 
 That on earth can find a voice, 
 At the holy- 
 Songs they troll, I 
 
 Joy, and evermore rejoice. 
 
 Oak leaves rarest 
 
 Of the fairest 
 Coloring to thee I throw, 
 
 On their faces 
 
 Are the traces 
 Of the name of— who shall know ? 
 
LITTLE MOSS ROSE. 
 
 A LOVELY rose-bud in the sun sliine blowing, 
 Simple and modest, and as sweetly wild, 
 As though young Zephyr nursed it as her child, 
 Art thou wee Pet ; so innocently growing 
 Upon the parent stem, whUe sun and dew 
 Still foster thee, with care the tenderest, 
 And spirits hover over the green nest 
 "Which shelters thee. Happy for thee, while yet 
 Thou art not tempted from this safe retreat, 
 By the gay sunshine of the world aUuring, 
 Where prouder beauties glance with more assuring 
 Effluence and color, but how far less sweet 
 Than thou bright budling, O then linger here 
 God and his angels are so very near. 
 
HELPING HANDS. 
 
 " Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair !" 
 Over my Alfred bend, with loving care ; 
 Let him behold you, feel your presence near, 
 Oh, bear him tidmgs from this holy sphere ! 
 Tell him, sweet angels, that his faithful wife 
 Walks Avith him, mutely, through the scenes of life, 
 An ever-helping, ever-cheering power, , 
 She bends above him in the trial hour ; 
 A mellower sunbeam in his joyous air, 
 She comes unseen, and warms him unaware. 
 Oh, had my heart a language, it would tell 
 Such thrilling stories of the homes where dwell 
 Eternal pleasures, beyond doubt, and strife. 
 That death should seem the perfectness of life ! 
 
 " Beautiful spirits, gloriously fair !" 
 
 As earthward, now, ye cleave the throbbing air, 
 
214 HELPING HANDS. 
 
 Across his pathway throw a radiant light, 
 Let heavenly visions dawn upon his sight ; 
 Let Love's enchantment kindle every scene 
 His fancy pictures ; with a brow serene 
 May meek-eyed Faith so near the blest abode 
 Lead his tried spirit, to a pardoning God, 
 That Hope's forecast fruition may be given 
 To his croAvned spirit, in the bowers of heaven. 
 
PAULINE, 
 
 White browed Anemones, daughters of the sun, 
 And blue-eyed violets, with the mignonette, 
 And pale pink roses with the valley's pet, 
 The myrtle, iris, lily, every one 
 Becomes a sweet Interpreter of thee ; 
 And as I hst the voices of thy soul. 
 So soft and gentle, yet in their control 
 Strong and subduing, clearly do I see 
 The latent strength that slumbers in thy spirit, 
 Where lofty faith with aspirations high, 
 And holy loves keep closest company, 
 Building the heaven predestined soul's inherit. 
 Oh, the sweet influence of thy soul on mme 
 Is Uke an efiiuence of the most Divine! 
 
THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 
 
 Oh, be silent ! spmt voices, 
 Singing, ringing, reach my ear, 
 
 Throbbing pulses, hush your noises; 
 Let me hear ! more clearly hear ! 
 
 Stay, oh stay this tide of feeling ; 
 
 Trembling heart, lay fear aside ; 
 Senses, shocked to sudden reehng, 
 
 Look to Him, the Glorified ! 
 
 Fervently your white arms reaching, 
 In the silence lift your prayer, 
 
 With lips mute in their beseeching, 
 Spirit raeeldy bending, where 
 
THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 217 
 
 His light footsteps flashes beauty 
 
 On the mountains, as he goes ; 
 So the twin eyes, faith and duty, 
 
 To the spirit shall disclose 
 
 Such intensely brilliant gl earnings 
 
 Of the home where spirits dwell, 
 That the Poet's wildest dreamings 
 
 Were too faint, its worth to tell. 
 
 I have seen its mingled glories. 
 
 Flashing intermittent gleams, 
 Far beyond the gorgeous stories 
 
 Of the heaven of orient dreams! 
 
 Jacinth, heliotrojje, and sapphire, 
 
 Amethyst, and topaz bright, 
 Red comehans flashing fair fire. 
 
 Sardonyx and chrysolite. 
 
 The still varying opal's hue. 
 
 The wierd agate's cloudy lines. 
 Turquoise, Avith its heavenly blue. 
 
 And the flashing almandines. 
 10 
 
218 THE JEWELED HEAVENS. 
 
 Diamonds, such as earth ue'er furnished 
 For her proudest monarch's ci'own, 
 
 Gems, so exquisitely burnished, 
 
 That their rays Uke smibeams shone ; 
 
 Rubies bright, and j^earls the fairest, 
 Sea-hued beryls, jasper stones, 
 
 And clear crystal forms, the rarest, 
 And pellucid chalcedones. 
 
 There the golden chrysoprasus 
 
 Mingled ^dth the emerald's green, 
 
 In a glory that surpasses 
 
 All that mortal eye has seen. 
 
 But surpassing all that splendor, 
 Blazed the glory of the One, 
 
 God-Uke strong, and child-Uke tender, 
 Whom 'tis life to look upon ! 
 
 I 
 
TO A. K. F. 
 
 I. 
 
 Oh conquering "Woman ! as I read thy heart, 
 
 I see its fitness for high ministries, 
 Manfully to perform thy chosen part, 
 
 And filled with all diviner sympathies. 
 Angels of goodness thee unseen surround, 
 
 Still marshaling to deeds of high emprise ; 
 With brightest bays thy forehead have they crowned. 
 
 In laud of thy uncounted victories. 
 Oh hero-soul. Life's temple dost thou build, 
 
 Arches and columns, towers and glowing spires ; 
 With incense of good deeds its halls are filled. 
 
 And love to God kindles its altar-fires. 
 As low withm its hallowed courts I kneel. 
 Angels of love thy destiny reveal. 
 
TO A. K. F. 
 
 n. 
 
 On sister Spirit, still do I aspire 
 
 To breathe some note of praise more worthy thee, 
 With loving reverence, from my spirit-lyre 
 
 Would I arouse its holiest symphony. 
 Ah me ! I know full well, to souls like thine, 
 
 With every dawn there evermore doth come 
 Some sacrifice to lay on Duty's shrine, 
 
 Some sterner conflict, deeper martyrdom ; 
 And Pity's tears are falling, as I think 
 
 Of all the sorrows gathering on thy way; 
 From what a cup of anguish must thou drink, 
 
 What dizzy heights, what dismal depths survey 
 From out so black and storm-conflicting night. 
 There must be bom a day of radiance bright. 
 
RECONCILIATION", 
 
 Lydia ! my loving Sister, very sweet 
 
 It is, and pleasant to my soul, to greet 
 
 Thee in thy happy home of peace, aloof; 
 
 Dear memories clustering 'neath its humble roof; 
 
 But though with these, and thee, I find it blest 
 
 To linger often, yet it were not best 
 
 Too many a joy's unnerving sweets to prove, 
 
 Darling, my sister, dearest in my love. 
 
 When first my soul, led by our mother's hand, 
 In robes of glory sought the spirit land. 
 Thy anxious care, and earnest tenderness, 
 So lured it back to pity and caress, 
 With lingering fondness for awhile I hung, 
 Sometimes o'er thee, sometimes to Alfred clung, 
 Oftener to thee, for thus through Dora's voice 
 I found fit speech to bid tliy heart rejoice ; 
 
222 KE CONCILIATION. 
 
 And breathing so her spirit strong and meek, 
 I learned to love her as I learned to speak. 
 
 But though, dear Lydia, I am fain to chng 
 
 Around thee so, love's messages to bring, 
 
 Yet for a season I must needs release 
 
 My hold upon you, and my words must cease, 
 
 I can not linger when such glories rise 
 
 Kindling before me in the eternal skies ; 
 
 I feel within my inmost spirit burn 
 
 Earnest desire the angel's songs to learn, 
 
 But not the more can your dear memories fade 
 
 Nor heaven's full glory quench the light ye shed, 
 
 Though far I wander on my glowing track. 
 
 Ere long, be sure, my soul shall travel back, 
 
 With bright revealings from my bUssful sphere, 
 
 And the soft splendors that surround me here. 
 
 But one more word, dear Lydia, I would say, 
 Be not so anxious for the time and way. 
 The wrong and doubtful from the true and right 
 WUl fade, as darkness fadeth fi"om the hght. 
 I stood beside thee all that night of grief 
 Longing, but powerless, to bestow relief; 
 Still all untroubled, for I saw how clear 
 The sun of Trust would rise again, to cheei*. 
 
reconcihatio:n^. 223 
 
 On a Spring's bosom did'st tliou never trace 
 Perfect reflections of thy form and face, 
 And gazing seen some leaflet flutter down 
 On its fair surface ? thus, sometimes, is thrown 
 A rufiiing shadow o'er the depths of mind, 
 Bhirring an image faithfully enshrined, 
 A breath will dim the purest mirror's flice. 
 So may a thought, from other minds, eftace 
 From Dora's soul the messages we send. 
 Or if not all, some mist may with them blend, 
 Leaving their beauty but in fitful gleams ; 
 A troubled slumber giveth troubled dreams. 
 
 Be calm and patient, ever trusting take 
 
 What comes of worthy, for its own worth's sake. 
 
 The sweetest featiu'e of this lovely sphere 
 
 Is, that no self can ever enter here, 
 
 Nothing of earth's conflicting mine and thine^ 
 
 But all is mutual, loving, and divine. 
 
RENUNCIATION 
 
 Gently ! touch me gently, Brother ! 
 
 Ah, methinks thou now can'st see 
 AH the grief I sought to smother, 
 
 In my inmost soul, for thee. 
 
 Tenderly thy name is cherished, 
 
 Faithfully thine honor kept. 
 But for evermore hath perished 
 
 The strange passion, once which swept 
 
 O'er me, as a storm o'er ocean, 
 
 As a whirlwind, or a fire, 
 KindUng, to intense emotion, 
 
 Every sensuous desire ! 
 
KKNUNCI ATI ON. 225 
 
 Every tendril of fine feeling, 
 
 Seemed aroimd thy strength to grow ; 
 Every passionate reveaUng, 
 
 Took a more impassioned flow ; 
 
 Till my spirit-life seemed fading, 
 
 Fading, withering, as a flower, 
 Which the hot hand of the Day King 
 
 Clutches, with too fierce a power. 
 
 Raise thou not a hushuig finger ; 
 
 I must speak, and thou must hear ! 
 Never an impassioned singer 
 
 Chanted notes more deep, and clear. 
 
 Had I loved thee truly, purely, 
 
 I had never lost that truth ; 
 Had thy love been wiser, surely 
 
 Better were it now, for both. 
 
 Better ! no ; I would say, rather, 
 
 It were better as it is, — 
 Better for the strength I gather, 
 
 From a lesson learned Uke this. 
 10* 
 
226 RENUNCIATION. 
 
 For the troth kiss to thee plighted, 
 Never could have been, to me, 
 
 Like the pure flame I have lighted 
 At the fires of Calvary. 
 
 Mid the jarring of my heart strings. 
 Sweetest symphony awoke, 
 
 As when, with clear notes, a bard sings 
 In a battle's storm and smoke. 
 
 And it calmed my every feeling, 
 Soothed my passion's wildest cry, 
 
 Till each sense sank, reverent, kneeling 
 At the Cross imploringly. 
 
 Oh, I pray thee, do not tarry, 
 One memorial hour with me, 
 
 Since I never more can carry 
 The old tenderness for thee. 
 
 As a brother, brother only. 
 Do I clasp thy proffered hand, 
 
 And my feelings, gay or lonely. 
 Thou canst never more command. 
 
KENUNCI ATI ON. 227 
 
 Go, I can not need thy presence ; 
 
 Leave me, from this fleeting hour ; 
 Or thy memory, as a pleasance, 
 
 "Will have lost its charmed power. 
 
 Let the dear old past be treasured, 
 
 As a something sacred still ; 
 I, its loftiest heights who measured, 
 
 Its profoundest deeps can fill. 
 
 Of that past I learn to borrow 
 
 Hope's serenest guiding star, 
 Not a rack of dark'ning sorrow 
 
 Its effulgency can mar. 
 
 From that past a power is stealing. 
 
 Silently, and all divine, 
 And its hoUest reveahng 
 
 I have made forever mine. 
 
 Leave thou, leave the few pale roses, 
 That within my spirit bloom. 
 
 For the hues then* heart discloses. 
 And the sweets of their perfume. 
 
228 KENUNCIATION. 
 
 Surely, pale and scentless seeming, 
 Must they be, to sense and eyes, 
 
 Gladdened by the gardens, gleaming 
 With the flowers olC. Paradise. 
 
 Go ! these ears no more shall listen 
 To that Avinning voice of thine, 
 
 And these eyes no longer glisten 
 With pale feeling's treacherous sign. 
 
 . For the future, now, must prove me 
 Strong in purpose, firm, and still ; 
 Passion never more shall move my 
 Deep, unfaltering, springs of will. 
 
1