The legendary consisting of original pieces, principally illustrative of American history, scenery, and manners |
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TO THE ICE MOUNTAIN. |
 | TO THE ICE MOUNTAIN. The legendary |  |
TO THE ICE MOUNTAIN.
BY JAMES O. ROCKWELL.
Grave of waters gone to rest!
Jewel, dazzling all the main!
Father of the silver crest!
Wandering on the trackless plain,
Sleeping mid the wavy roar,
Sailing mid the angry storm,
Ploughing ocean's oozy floor,
Piling to the clouds thy form!
Wandering monument of rain,
Prisoned by the sullen north!
But to melt thy hated chain,
Is it, that thou comest forth?
Wend thee to the sunny south,
To the glassy summer sea,
And the breathings of her mouth
Shall unchain and gladden thee!
Roamer in the hidden path,
'Neath the green and clouded wave!
Trampling, in thy reckless wrath,
On the lost, but cherished brave;
Jewel, dazzling all the main!
Father of the silver crest!
Wandering on the trackless plain,
Sleeping mid the wavy roar,
Sailing mid the angry storm,
Ploughing ocean's oozy floor,
Piling to the clouds thy form!
Wandering monument of rain,
Prisoned by the sullen north!
But to melt thy hated chain,
Is it, that thou comest forth?
Wend thee to the sunny south,
To the glassy summer sea,
And the breathings of her mouth
Shall unchain and gladden thee!
Roamer in the hidden path,
'Neath the green and clouded wave!
Trampling, in thy reckless wrath,
On the lost, but cherished brave;
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Parting love's death-linked embrace—
Crushing beauty's skeleton—
Tell us what the hidden race
With our mourned lost have done!
Floating Sleep! who in the sun
Art an icy coronal;
And, beneath the viewless dun,
Throw'st o'er barks a wavy pall;
Shining Death upon the sea!
Wend thee to the southern main;
Bend to God thy melting knee,
Mingle with the wave again!
Crushing beauty's skeleton—
Tell us what the hidden race
With our mourned lost have done!
Floating Sleep! who in the sun
Art an icy coronal;
And, beneath the viewless dun,
Throw'st o'er barks a wavy pall;
Shining Death upon the sea!
Wend thee to the southern main;
Bend to God thy melting knee,
Mingle with the wave again!
| TO THE ICE MOUNTAIN. The legendary | |