 | Poems of Charles Warren Stoddard . |  |
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CHARLES WARREN STODDARD
The Poet of the South Seas, 1843–1909.
Thine exile ended,—O belovéd seer,—
Thou turnest homeward to thine isles of light;
Thy reefs of silver, and palmetto height!
Yea, down thy vales sonorous thou wouldst hear
Again the cataracts that white and clear
Called from young days—oh, with what loving might!—
That from our arms and this embattled night
Thou break'st away and leav'st us sobbing here.
Thou turnest homeward to thine isles of light;
Thy reefs of silver, and palmetto height!
Yea, down thy vales sonorous thou wouldst hear
Again the cataracts that white and clear
Called from young days—oh, with what loving might!—
That from our arms and this embattled night
Thou break'st away and leav'st us sobbing here.
Vain the laudation!—What are crowns and praise
To thee whom Youth anointed on the eyes?
We have but known the lesser heart of thee
Whose spirit bloomed in lilies down the ways
Of Padua; whose voice perpetual sighs
On Molokai in tides of melody.
To thee whom Youth anointed on the eyes?
We have but known the lesser heart of thee
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Of Padua; whose voice perpetual sighs
On Molokai in tides of melody.
| Poems of Charles Warren Stoddard . | |