 | Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne |  |
XI.
EARTH ODORS—AFTER RAIN.
Life-yielding fragrance of our mother earth!Benignant breath exhaled from summer showers!—
All Nature dimples into smiles of flowers,
From unclosed woodland, to trim garden girth;—
These perfumes softening the harsh soul of dearth,
Are older than old Shinar's arrogant towers,—
And touched with visions of rain-freshened hours,
On Syrian hill-slopes 'ere the patriarch's birth!
Nay! the charmed fancy plays a subtler part!—
Lo! banished Adam, his large, wondering eyes
Fixed on the trouble of the first dark cloud!
Lo! tremulous Eve,—a pace behind, how bowed,—
Not dreaming, 'midst her painful pants of heart,
What balm shall fall from yonder ominous cloud!
| Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne | |