The Poems of J. J. Callanan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Clime for ever fair and bright,
Cloudless region of the blest,
Summer's heat or winter's blight
Comes not o'er thy fields of light,
Yielder of endless joy and home of endless rest.

There his flock whilst fondly tending,
All unarmed with staff or sling,
Flowers of white and purple blending
O'er his brow of beauty bending,
The heavenly Shepherd walks thy breathing fields of spring.

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Still his look of love reposes
On the happy sheep he feeds
With thine own undying roses,
Flowers no clime but thine discloses;
And still the more they feast more freshly bloom thy meads.

To thy hills in glory blushing
Next his charge the Shepherd guides,
And in streams all sorrow hushing,
Streams of life in gladness gushing,
His happy flock he bathes and their high food provides.

And when sleep their eye encumbers
In the noontide radiance strong,
With his calumet's sweet numbers
Lulls them in delicious slumbers,
And rapt in holy dreams they hear that 'trancing song.

At that pipe's melodious sounding,
Thrilling joys transfix the soul,
And in visions bright surrounding
Up the ardent spirit bounding,
Springs on her pinion free to love's eternal goal.

Minstrel of heaven, if earthward stealing
This ear might catch thy faintest tone,
Then would thy voice's sweet revealing
Drown my soul with holiest feeling
And this weak heart that strays, at length be all thine own.

142

Then with a joy that knows no speaking,
I would wait thy smile on yon high shore,
And from earth's vile bondage breaking
Thy bright home, good Shepherd, seeking,
Live with thy blessed flock, nor darkly wander more.