Home of the mighty! thou art lone, From thy cold hearths no festal blaze, Nor welcome, with convivial rays, But there shall grass luxuriant spread, And the deep swell of every blast, Seem a wild dirge for years of grandeur past. And I-my joy of life is fled, My spirit's power, my bosom's glow, The raven-locks that graced my head, Wave in a wreath of snow! And where the star of youth arose, I deemed life's lingering ray should close, And those loved trees my tomb o'ershade, Beneath whose arching bowers my childhood played. Vain dream! that tomb in distant earth, Shall rise forsaken and forgot, And thou, sweet land, that gav'st me birth, A grave must yield me not! Yet haply he for whom I leave, Thy shores, in life's dark winter-eve, When cold the hand, and closed the lays, And one frail garland o'er the minstrel's bed! THE PRAYER FOR LIFE. O SUNSHINE and fair earth! Sweet is your kindly mirth, Angel of Death! yet, yet awhile delay! Too sad it is to part, Thus in my spring of heart, With all the light and laughter of the day. For me the falling leaf Touches no chord of grief, No dark void in the rose's bosom lies: Not one triumphal tone, One hue of hope, is gone From song or bloom beneath the summer skies. Death, Death! ere yet decay, Call me not hence away, Over the golden hours no shade is thrown; The poesy that dwells Of winds that shake forth music from the trees; Not for the splendour given To night's dark regal heaven, Spoiler! I ask thee not reprieve for these. But for the happy love Whose light, where'er I rove, Kindles all nature to a sudden smile, Shedding on branch and flower A rainbow-tinted shower Of richer life-spare, spare me yet awhile. Too soon, too fast thou'rt come ! Too beautiful is home, A home of gentle voices and kind eyes! And I the loved of all, On whom fond blessings fall From every lip-oh! wilt thou rend such ties? Sweet sisters! weave a chain My spirit to detain; Hold me to earth with strong affection back ; Bind me with mighty love Unto the stream, the grove, Our daily paths—our life's familiar track. Stay with me! gird me round! Your voices bear a sound Of hope—a light comes with you and departs; Hush, my soul's boding swell, That murmurs of farewell; How can I leave this ring of kindest hearts? S |