Life is before ye - and while now ye stand Eager to spring upon the promised land, Fair smiles the way, where yet your feet have trod But few light steps, upon a flowery sod;...
Flower of the mountain! by the wanderer's hand Robbed of thy beauty's short-lived sunny day; Didst thou but blow to gem the stranger's way, And bloom, to wither in the stranger's land?...
Poor little sprite! in that dark, narrow cell Caged by the law of man's resistless might! With thy sweet liquid notes, by some strong spell, Compelled to minister to his delight!...
Oh let it be where the waters are meeting, In one crystal sheet, like the summer's sky bright! Oh let it be where the sun, when retreating, May throw the last glance of his vanishing light....
Time beckons on the hours: the expiring year Already feels old Winter's icy breath; As with cold hands, he scatters on her bier The faded glories of her Autumn wreath....
Oh lady! thou, who in the olden time Hadst been the star of many a poet's dream! Thou, who unto a mind of mould sublime, Weddest the gentle graces that beseem Fair woman's best! forgive the darling line...
What was thine errand here? Thy beauty was more exquisite than aught That from this marred earth Takes its imperfect birth; It was a radiant, heavenly beauty, caught From some far higher sphere,...
Merciful spirit! who thy bright throne above Hast left, to wander through this dismal earth With me, poor child of sin! - Angel of love! Whose guardian wings hung o'er me from my birth,...