 | Original, serious, and religious poetry |  |
58
RETURNING HEALTH; LINES ADDRESSED TO MR. B---T.
UPON THE AUTHOR'S RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS.
'Tis well,
Thou who hast seen so much of misery,
And done so much to mitigate its pain!
Dost thou thy patient ask to give his thoughts
In words expressive of returning health?
Nay let me rather ask of thee, for thou
Canst better speak, perhaps canst better feel
The force of such delight.—
Thou who hast seen so much of misery,
And done so much to mitigate its pain!
Dost thou thy patient ask to give his thoughts
In words expressive of returning health?
Nay let me rather ask of thee, for thou
Canst better speak, perhaps canst better feel
The force of such delight.—
Hast thou beheld
When life was almost spent, when scarce the breath
Which the Almighty Spirit hath infused
Into our earthly organs, holds its sway;
When pangs and throbs were o'er; when every vein
And every muscle of the face and limbs,
Seemed resting in the tranquil sleep of death;
Hast thou in dread suspense, beheld the eye
Which erst was fixed, now gently move, and turn,
The eye-lid twinkle, then expand, collapse,
And vision seemingly restor'd, perceived
Some token of perception in that soul,
Which but just now had vanished? If thou hast,
Speak how thine heart expanded at the sight.
How every nerve, felt tremblingly alive
To quick sensations of riviving hope.
How hope increased, with each increasing sign
Of Animation! Was not this delight?
If not to thee, yet to those anxious eyes
'Twixt hope and dread, which watched the pallid form
Of parent, brother, friend, protector, wife,
Or lov'd associate? Joy beyond conceit,
Must it have been to them, as sense return'd,
With motion, thought, and action. But to him,
How shall I speak the pleasure of his soul,
Who sunk beneath the oppression of disease
Of long duration, finds himself reviv'd,
Restored again to recognition,
To the long, the loving, much endearing gaze
Of friends and relatives; to welcome smiles,
The fond expression of affections tongue.
O I can think and feel, but cannot speak
The bliss unutterable. Words may sound
Enchanting to the ear, delight the mind;
Inspire the intellect, expand the soul;
But silent grief, and silent joy speak best,
The feeling language of the o'er flowing heart.
How shall I tell of rising thoughts, when life
Begins a fresh, when every thing around
Seems newly modelled to his freshened brain,
As health invigorates his faculties.
Shall I describe the first bewitching scene,
Which nature offers to his senses, though beheld,
From open casement; tell how bright the sun,
How green the grass, how pure the soften'd air,
How rich the distant hills diversified
With light and shade, whilst here and there,
Some animated speak of moving life,
Enliven'd and embolden'd all the scene.
No! I reserve it for those days of joy,
Unmix'd with pain or torturing alloy,
Which see my captive once again repair,
From close confinement to enjoy the air:
When health returning, animates his soul,
Dispels disease, and banishes controul.
As some poor fly, awoke from torpid state,
Feels 'neath the sun, his tiny wings dilate,
His blood grow warm, his limbs elastic prove,
Shakes his small form impatient still to move.
Strength gathering slowly, 'neath the glowing ray,
See him glide onward in the sunny way.
Till grown more strong, and freed from chilling pain,
He flits and flutters, tries the air again.
At length confirm'd, resumes his rapid flight,
Darts here and there, on wings of pure delight;
Begins new life, enjoys the opening day,
And feels returning health, drive care away.
So he, the cheerful subject of this theme,
Awaken'd as from long and painful dream,
Again walks forth, and treads the verdant sod,
Reads in the face of nature, natures God.
Feels in full force, his influence divine,
And prays with fervor, “be thou ever mine.”
Renew'd in spirit, and in health refresh'd,
Thus doubly happy, being doubly blest.—
When life was almost spent, when scarce the breath
Which the Almighty Spirit hath infused
59
When pangs and throbs were o'er; when every vein
And every muscle of the face and limbs,
Seemed resting in the tranquil sleep of death;
Hast thou in dread suspense, beheld the eye
Which erst was fixed, now gently move, and turn,
The eye-lid twinkle, then expand, collapse,
And vision seemingly restor'd, perceived
Some token of perception in that soul,
Which but just now had vanished? If thou hast,
Speak how thine heart expanded at the sight.
How every nerve, felt tremblingly alive
To quick sensations of riviving hope.
How hope increased, with each increasing sign
Of Animation! Was not this delight?
If not to thee, yet to those anxious eyes
'Twixt hope and dread, which watched the pallid form
Of parent, brother, friend, protector, wife,
60
Must it have been to them, as sense return'd,
With motion, thought, and action. But to him,
How shall I speak the pleasure of his soul,
Who sunk beneath the oppression of disease
Of long duration, finds himself reviv'd,
Restored again to recognition,
To the long, the loving, much endearing gaze
Of friends and relatives; to welcome smiles,
The fond expression of affections tongue.
O I can think and feel, but cannot speak
The bliss unutterable. Words may sound
Enchanting to the ear, delight the mind;
Inspire the intellect, expand the soul;
But silent grief, and silent joy speak best,
The feeling language of the o'er flowing heart.
How shall I tell of rising thoughts, when life
Begins a fresh, when every thing around
Seems newly modelled to his freshened brain,
61
Shall I describe the first bewitching scene,
Which nature offers to his senses, though beheld,
From open casement; tell how bright the sun,
How green the grass, how pure the soften'd air,
How rich the distant hills diversified
With light and shade, whilst here and there,
Some animated speak of moving life,
Enliven'd and embolden'd all the scene.
No! I reserve it for those days of joy,
Unmix'd with pain or torturing alloy,
Which see my captive once again repair,
From close confinement to enjoy the air:
When health returning, animates his soul,
Dispels disease, and banishes controul.
As some poor fly, awoke from torpid state,
Feels 'neath the sun, his tiny wings dilate,
His blood grow warm, his limbs elastic prove,
Shakes his small form impatient still to move.
62
See him glide onward in the sunny way.
Till grown more strong, and freed from chilling pain,
He flits and flutters, tries the air again.
At length confirm'd, resumes his rapid flight,
Darts here and there, on wings of pure delight;
Begins new life, enjoys the opening day,
And feels returning health, drive care away.
So he, the cheerful subject of this theme,
Awaken'd as from long and painful dream,
Again walks forth, and treads the verdant sod,
Reads in the face of nature, natures God.
Feels in full force, his influence divine,
And prays with fervor, “be thou ever mine.”
Renew'd in spirit, and in health refresh'd,
Thus doubly happy, being doubly blest.—
O 't would be well if man could ever feel,
In health and strength, such animating zeal.
Such fervent gratitude, such love divine,
Nor own in innocence himself supine;
But walk in purity, and ever be
The faithful servant of the Deity.—
Thus health and life, in unity sublime,
Would be cemented till the end of time.
In health and strength, such animating zeal.
63
Nor own in innocence himself supine;
But walk in purity, and ever be
The faithful servant of the Deity.—
Thus health and life, in unity sublime,
Would be cemented till the end of time.
| Original, serious, and religious poetry | |