University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Thomas Cole's poetry

the collected poems of America's foremost painter of the Hudson River School reflecting his feelings for nature and the romantic spirit of the Nineteenth Century
Cole, Thomas (1801-1848)

collapse section 
[section]
 1. 
1. The Times
 2. 
2. Fancy
 3. 
3. The Vision of Life
 4. 
4. To the Moon
 5. 
5. Twilight
 6. 
[6. The night was calm. Clad in her mantle darkness]
 7. 
7. For an Album
 8. 
8. Lines on Lake George
 9. 
9. To Mount Washington
 10. 
10. Niagara
 11. 
[11. Alas! he is a wretch who has no home]
 12. 
12. Let not the ostentatious gaud of art
 13. 
13. Written on my Birthday, Feb. 1, 1830
 14. 
14. Written on my Birthday, Feb. 1, 1830
 15. 
[15. I see the green Fiesole arise]
 16. 
[16. A lonely cloud is flitting round the brow]
 17. 
[17. The eager vessel flies the broken surge]
 18. 
[18. The eager vessel flies the broken surge]
 19. 
19. Lines Written after a Walk on [a] Beautiful Morning in November
 20. 
[20. Vain is my fondest hope! Alone—alone]
 21. 
21. On seeing that a favorite tree of the Author's had been cut down—
 22. 
22. On seeing that a favorite tree of the Author's had been cut down—
 23. 
23. The Painter's Lamentation
 24. 
[24. Again the wreathed snow]
 25. 
[25. O Cedar Grove! whene'er I think to part]
 26. 
[26. I sigh not for a stormless clime]
 27. 
[27. Cast off the bands that bind thee now]
 28. 
28. Hope and Trust Spring from the Contemplation of the Works of God
 29. 
29. Evening Thoughts
 30. 
30. Evening Thoughts
 31. 
[31. Though time has sadden'd every thought]
 32. 
[32. Winter had fled into his northern home]
 33. 
33. On hearing of the death of Mr. Reed—
 34. 
34. Lines occasioned by the death of Mr. Luman Reed
 35. 
35. Song of the Spirit of the Mountain
 36. 
[36. The wight who climbs the mountain's gleaming side]
 37. 
37. Written in Autumn
 38. 
[38. Mother! All hallowed word forever bless'd!]
 39. 
[39. On the frore shadow of yon mountain-steep]
 40. 
[40. Thine early hopes are fading, one by one]
 41. 
[41. Thine early Hopes are fading one by one]
 42. 
[42. And shall I halt midway in my career]
 43. 
[43. Thou frail and feeble vine!]
 44. 
[44. I saw a cave of sable depth profound]
 45. 
45. Sonnet
collapse section46. 
46. The Complaint of the Forest
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
Complaint—
  
[section]
expand section47. 
47. The Lament of the Forest
 48. 
[48. Oft when o'er Earth is spread the gloomy shade]
 49. 
[49. Why do ye count your little months, your years]
 50. 
[50. Upon the bosom of the infant year]
 51. 
51. The Dial
 52. 
52. Birdsnest
 53. 
[53. Though snows enwrap the mountain's head]
 54. 
54. Birthday
 55. 
55. The Summer Days are Ended
 56. 
56. The Summer Days Are Ended
 57. 
57. Written upon an Autumnal Leaf
 58. 
58. On Another
 59. 
[59. Like a cloud on the brow of a mountain]
 60. 
[60. This day hath closed another of my years]
 61. 
61. Winds
 62. 
62. [Autumn]
 63. 
63. Autumn
 64. 
64. Mt. Etna
 65. 
65. Lago Maggiore
 66. 
66. Life's Pilgrimage
 67. 
67. A Sunset
 68. 
68. On a Sunset Sky
 69. 
69. Winter
 70. 
70. Winter
expand section71. 
71. The Voyage of Life
 72. 
[72. These shady groves, these bright blue hills]
 73. 
73. The March of Time
 74. 
74. The March of Time
 75. 
75. Just before Sunrise
 76. 
76. The Cross
 77. 
77. Alone Yet Not Alone
 78. 
78. A Painter
 79. 
79. Evening
 80. 
80. Life
 81. 
81. Lines occasioned by the death of Miss M. A. W.
 82. 
82. Lines suggested by a picture painted by Weir, in which a lady is seen sitting at a window gazing on the sea, whilst a youth at her side is playing the guitar—
 83. 
83. Lines Suggested by a Voyage up the Hudson on a Moonlight Night
 84. 
84. Lines suggested by hearing Music on the Boston Common at night
 85. 
85. Morning
 86. 
86. The Burial Ground at Catskill
 87. 
87. The Lute
 88. 
88. The Man of Pride
 89. 
89. The Mountain Bird
 90. 
90. The Mountain Bird
 91. 
91. To ---
 92. 
92. To a Lock of Hair—
 93. 
93. To CBT
 94. 
94. To Spring
 95. 
[95. A reminiscence of my perish'd love]
 96. 
[96. A reminiscence of departed love]
 97. 
[97. A spell comes o'er th' excited soul whene'er]
 98. 
[98. How awful was the voice that came to Job]
 99. 
[99. How changeful is the cloud that flits along]
 100. 
[100. O Nature my sole mistress unto thee]
 101. 
[101. Take me Zephyr on thy wings]
 102. 
[102. Thy gloom O twilight suits my soul]
 103. 
[103. 'Tis all a dream: our joys, our fears]
 104. 
[104. Who breaks the silence of the night]
 105. 
[105. Who that hath breathed on mountain top, where winds]

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Thomas Cole's poetry
next section
169

78.
A Painter

I know 'tis vain ye mountains, and ye woods
To strive to match your wild, and wonderous hues,
Ye rocks and lakes, and ever rolling floods,
The gold-cinctur'd eve, or morn begemm'd with dews—
Yes, day by day and year by year I've toil'd
In the lone chamber, and the sunny field
To grasp your beauty; but I have been foil'd—
I cannot conquer; but I will not yield—
How oft have I, where spread the pictur'd scene
Wrought on the canvas with fond, anxious care,
Deemed I had equalled nature's forests green,
Her lakes, her rocks, and e'en the ambient air.
Vain unpious thought! such feverish fancies sweep
Swift from the brain—when nature's landscapes break
Upon the thrilling sense—O I could weep
Not that she is so beautiful; but I so weak—
O! for a power to snatch the living light
From heaven, and darkness from some deep abyss,
Made palpable: with skill to mingle right
Their mystery of beauty! then mine would be bliss!
previous section Thomas Cole's poetry
next section