 | Songs Old and New |  |
64
THE ALPINE GENTIAN.
She 'mid ice mountains vast
Long had lain sleeping,
When she looked forth at last,
Timidly peeping.
Long had lain sleeping,
When she looked forth at last,
Timidly peeping.
Trembling she gazed around,
All round her slept;
O'er the dead icy ground
Cold shadows crept.
All round her slept;
O'er the dead icy ground
Cold shadows crept.
Wide fields of silent snow,
Still, frozen seas—
What could her young life do
'Mid such as these?
Still, frozen seas—
What could her young life do
'Mid such as these?
Not a voice came to her,
Not a warm breath;
What hope lay there for her
Living 'midst death?
Not a warm breath;
What hope lay there for her
Living 'midst death?
65
Mournfully pondering
Gazed she on high;
White clouds were wandering
Through the blue sky.
Gazed she on high;
White clouds were wandering
Through the blue sky.
There smiled the kindly sun,
Gentle beams kissed her;
On her the mild moon shone
Like a saint sister.
Gentle beams kissed her;
On her the mild moon shone
Like a saint sister.
There twinkled many a star,
Danced in sweet mirth;
The warm heavens seemed nearer far
Than the cold earth.
Danced in sweet mirth;
The warm heavens seemed nearer far
Than the cold earth.
So she gazed steadfastly
Loving on high;
Till she grew heavenly,
Blue as the sky.
Loving on high;
Till she grew heavenly,
Blue as the sky.
And the cold icicles
Near which she grew,
Thawed in her skyey bells
Fed her with dew.
Near which she grew,
Thawed in her skyey bells
Fed her with dew.
And the tired traveller
Gazing abroad,
Fixing his eyes on her,
Thinketh of God;
Gazing abroad,
66
Thinketh of God;
Thinks how, 'mid life's cold snow.
Hearts to God given
Breathe out where'er they go
Summer and heaven.
Hearts to God given
Breathe out where'er they go
Summer and heaven.
1849.
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