Poems by the late Hon. William R. Spencer :: :: University of Virginia Library

Fear not, sweet girl, that with irreverent mirth
I hail the solemn day which gave thee birth:
Much as I lov'd thy playful smiles before,
This day I love thy sacred sorrows more!
No beam of joy unhallow'd shall invade
The dim religion of that cypress shade,
Where on this day thy filial soul retires,
Not unattended—Saints and Angel-choirs
Their harpings jubilant to dirges turn,
Whilst orphan beauty clasps a parent's urn!
Orphan I call thee—when I see thy youth
Plum'd high with hope, with innocence, and truth,
Tow'r into life, and in its flight rejoice—
Oh! where's thy guiding lure—a mother's voice!

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And if, while soaring with unpractis'd force,
Disaster reach thee in thy venturous course,
Worn by the storm, or wounded by the dart,
Oh, where's thy resting place—a Mother's heart!
Clos'd were her eyes in death's untimely night
Ere yet thy infant graces blest her sight;
Mute was her voice, and cold her heart for thee,
Ere yet thy guide or shelter they could be!
Spar'd were ye both from one severer woe,
Nor Child, nor Parent, all they lost, could know;
How hadst thou mourn'd, if fate had call'd her hence,
When all her love had charm'd thy ripen'd sense!
How had she mourn'd in dying to resign
A mother's ecstacy at charms like thine!
But oh! what gleam of joy unhop'd appears,
Not to efface, but to reward thy tears!
Paternal love dispels thy bosom gloom,
Paternal smiles revive thy drooping bloom,
For thou hast droop'd, fair flow'ret! well I knew
Grief, more than sickness, pal'd thy vernal hue;
'Tis past—a Father joys each gift to see
Original in him, renew'd in thee;
From him thy varying fancy's meteor light,
Thy taste's quick glance of incorporeal sight,
Thy sense of all to letter'd judgment dear,
Wit's polish'd smile, and feeling's classic tear—

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From him they came, from him thy sov'reign voice,
That wills the soul to sadden or rejoice;
Clear as the sphere—notes charm the list'ning sky,
Soft as the music of a seraph's sigh!—
From him devolv'd each talent and each art;
Long may they gladden his parental heart,
Long may he prize, protect, improve their worth,
Long bless this day, which gave his peerless Laura birth!