 | Verses from The island book |  |
148
THE GUARDIAN SPIRITS OF THE ISLAND TO THE LOVERS OF ITS WOODS AND WATERS.
We meet you once more
On sea and on shore,
Away from the haunts of men;
In the forest glade,
'Neath the beech-tree's shade,
We welcome you here again.
On sea and on shore,
Away from the haunts of men;
In the forest glade,
'Neath the beech-tree's shade,
We welcome you here again.
As you gaze at night
On the stars' pure light,
In silent and thoughtful mood,
We, spirits of air,
Flit around you there,
To hallow the solitude.
On the stars' pure light,
In silent and thoughtful mood,
We, spirits of air,
Flit around you there,
To hallow the solitude.
If the scene and the hour
With their witching power
May bear you away from the earth,
To that fairy land
Where an unseen band
In the realms of fancy have birth,
With their witching power
May bear you away from the earth,
To that fairy land
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In the realms of fancy have birth,
Then together we'll glide
O'er the rippling tide,
Or tread on the foam of the wave,
And far down below
Where the corals grow,
We'll dance in the mermaid's cave
O'er the rippling tide,
Or tread on the foam of the wave,
And far down below
Where the corals grow,
We'll dance in the mermaid's cave
Or mount on the rack,
In the whirlwind's track,
When the timid cower with fear;
Midst the blinding flash
And the lightning's crash
We'll ride on its arrowy spear.
In the whirlwind's track,
When the timid cower with fear;
Midst the blinding flash
And the lightning's crash
We'll ride on its arrowy spear.
Then folding our wings,
Where the rainbow flings
Its arch o'er the parting cloud,
We'll greet yonder sun,
When his course he has run,
In the flush of his crimson shroud.
Where the rainbow flings
Its arch o'er the parting cloud,
We'll greet yonder sun,
When his course he has run,
In the flush of his crimson shroud.
Is some loved one gone
To that silent bourne
Whence no message comes to the ear,
But whose angel wing
A blessing may bring
To the heart that is sorrowing here,—
To that silent bourne
Whence no message comes to the ear,
But whose angel wing
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To the heart that is sorrowing here,—
Or your spirit oppressed,
And longing for rest
From the wearing battle of life,
And weary and sad
You here rest your head,
Away from the painful strife?
And longing for rest
From the wearing battle of life,
And weary and sad
You here rest your head,
Away from the painful strife?
Then a loftier flight
Than the rainbow's height
'T is our mission with you to take,
Where a richer glow
Than the earth can show
O'er a cloudless morn shall break.
Than the rainbow's height
'T is our mission with you to take,
Where a richer glow
Than the earth can show
O'er a cloudless morn shall break.
1851.
| Verses from The island book | |