And is safe when the wrathful spirit of storms Has made the top of the wave his own; And when the ship from his fury flies, Where the myriad voices of ocean roar, When the wind-god frowns in the murky skies, And demons are waiting the wreck on shore; Then far below in the peaceful sea, The purple mullet and gold-fish rove, Where the waters murmur tranquilly, Through the bending twigs of the coral grove. TO SENECA LAKE. ON thy fair bosom, silver lake! The wild swan spreads his snowy sail, And round his breast the ripples break, As down he bears before the gale. The dipping paddle echoes far, The waves along thy pebbly shore, As blows the north-wind, heave their foam, And curl around the dashing oar; How sweet, at set of sun, to view At midnight hour, as shines the Robes of satin and Brussels lace, Knots of flowers and ribbons too, Scattered about in every place. For the revel is through. And Maud and Madge in robes of white, The prettiest nightgowns under the sun, Stockingless, slipperless, sit in the night, For the revel is done. Sit and comb their beautiful hair, Those wonderful waves of brown and gold, Till the fire is out in the chamber there, And the little bare feet are cold. Then, out of the gathering winter chill, All out of the bitter St. Agnes weather, While the fire is out and the house is still, Maud and Madge together, Maud and Madge in robes of white, The prettiest nightgowns under the sun. Curtained away from the chilly night, After the revel is done! Pleat along in a splendid dream, To a golden gittern's tinkling tune, While a thousand lustres shimmering stream, In a palace's grand saloon. Flashing of jewels and flutter of laces, Tropical odors sweeter than musk; Men and women with beautiful faces And eyes of tropical dusk, And one face shining out like a star, One face haunting the dreams of each, And one voice sweeter than others are, Breaking into silvery speech, Telling, through lips of bearded bloom, An old, old story over again, To the golden gittern's strain, Two and two, they dreamily walk, While an unseen spirit walks beside, And, all unheard in the lovers' talk, He claimeth one for a bride. O Maud and Madge, dream on together, With never a pang of jealous fear! For, ere the bitter St. Agnes weather Shall whiten another year, Robed for the bridal, and robed for the tomb, Braided brown hair and golden tress, There'll be only one of you left for the bloom Of the bearded lips to press, Only one for the bridal pearls, The robe of satin and Brussels lace, Only one to blush through her curls At the sight of a lover's face. O beautiful Madge, in your bridal white, For you the revel has just begun: But for her who sleeps in your arms And when the wind brought welcome to-night The revel of life is done! But, robed and crowned with your saintly bliss, Queen of heaven and bride of the sun, O beautiful Maud, you'll never miss The kisses another hath won! IN AN HOUR. I. ANTICIPATION. "I'LL take the orchard path," she said, Speaking lowly, smiling slowly: The brook was dried within its bed, The hot sun flung a flame of red Low in the west as forth she sped. Across the dried brook-course she went, Singing lowly, smiling slowly; She scarcely felt the sun that spent Its fiery force in swift descent, She never saw the wheat was bent, The grasses parched, the blossoms dried; Singing lowly, smiling slowly, Her eyes amidst the drouth espied A summer pleasance far and wide, With roses and sweet violets pied. II. DISAPPOINTMENT. But homeward coming all the way, She saw the blossoms' dry decay, A breeze had sprung from out the south, But, sighing lowly, pacing slowly, She only felt the burning drouth; Her eyes were hot and parched her mouth, Yet sweet the wind blew from the south. To gladly, gleefully do your best To blow her against the young man's breast, Where he as gladly folded her in, And kissed her mouth and her dimpled chin? Ah! Ellery Vane, you little thought, An hour ago, when you besought This country lass to walk with you, After the sun had dried the dew, What perilous danger you'd be in, As she tied her bonnet under her chin! SOME DAY OF DAYS. SOME day; some day of days, threading the street With idle, heedless pace, Some day, some day of days, thus may we meet. Or winter's icy chill Touch whitely vale and hill. What matter? I shall thrill Through every vein with summer on that day. Once more life's perfect youth will all come back, And for a moment there I shall stand fresh and fair, And drop the garment care: Once more my perfect youth will nothing lack. I shut my eyes now, thinking how 't will be, How face to face each soul Of dreary Fate's dark separating sea; And glance to glance, and hand to hand in greeting, The past with all its fears, Its lonely, yearning years, Perchance the sun may shine from Shall vanish in the moment of that skies of May, meeting. |