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185
LEAVING THE KENNEBEC.
'T was morning,—its first golden sunbeams were darting
Through light wreaths of mist that hung over the stream,
Dispelling their silver, that rose, and, departing,
Dissolved in the air, like a glittering dream.
Through light wreaths of mist that hung over the stream,
Dispelling their silver, that rose, and, departing,
Dissolved in the air, like a glittering dream.
I saw the soft waves of the Kennebec curling,
And felt the sigh rising,—the ready tear flow;
For there lay the bark, her white pinions unfurling,
To waft me o'er them to the ocean below.
And felt the sigh rising,—the ready tear flow;
For there lay the bark, her white pinions unfurling,
To waft me o'er them to the ocean below.
The scenes on its margin grew dearer, and brightened;
Each object shone forth in its loveliest hue;
Field, garden, and wood, yea, all nature, seemed lightened,
All joy, but this heart, when it bade them adieu.
Each object shone forth in its loveliest hue;
Field, garden, and wood, yea, all nature, seemed lightened,
All joy, but this heart, when it bade them adieu.
Imbosomed in blossoms, the redbreast was singing,
With music the morn in its glory to hail;
The swallow went down where the dew-drops were clinging,
And sipped from the grass, as she skimmed o'er the vale.
With music the morn in its glory to hail;
The swallow went down where the dew-drops were clinging,
And sipped from the grass, as she skimmed o'er the vale.
The hanging-bird's hammock was still in vibration,
To show its light tenant that moment had fled;
The iris-plumed humming-bird sought the carnation,
And whirred o'er the cup where the honey-bee fed.
To show its light tenant that moment had fled;
The iris-plumed humming-bird sought the carnation,
And whirred o'er the cup where the honey-bee fed.
The wild rose, and elder, and sweet-brier invited
The insect to sip from their new-opened bloom;
The fern, fir, and cedar their odors united,
And formed a sweet incense the breeze to perfume.
The insect to sip from their new-opened bloom;
The fern, fir, and cedar their odors united,
And formed a sweet incense the breeze to perfume.
186
Unmarred by the woodman, the old oak was standing,
Alone and majestic, the pride of the glade,
With arms opened wide, and its green leaves expanding,
For flock, herd, and husbandman shelter and shade.
Alone and majestic, the pride of the glade,
With arms opened wide, and its green leaves expanding,
For flock, herd, and husbandman shelter and shade.
The slight mountain-ash, with the yellow-bird bending,
Waved high in the air, like a warrior's tall crest;
The pine's verdant head, to her proud sphere ascending,
The white eagle fanned, as she soared from her nest.
Waved high in the air, like a warrior's tall crest;
The pine's verdant head, to her proud sphere ascending,
The white eagle fanned, as she soared from her nest.
But, down the blue stream as the fleet vessel bore me,
Receding, the shores mocked my eye with their flight;
And when the broad ocean lay open before me,
I turned, and the landscape had faded from sight.
Receding, the shores mocked my eye with their flight;
And when the broad ocean lay open before me,
I turned, and the landscape had faded from sight.
Like visions that fly, as time's current is bearing
Its passenger on through life's pleasure and care;
It vanished from view, as my bark was preparing
To launch on the flood that awaited me there.
Its passenger on through life's pleasure and care;
It vanished from view, as my bark was preparing
To launch on the flood that awaited me there.
Roll on, noble River, with bright, curling waters!
And oft on thy sides may the stranger repose;
While blest is the land in its sons and its daughters,
That bloom on the banks where the Kennebec flows!
And oft on thy sides may the stranger repose;
While blest is the land in its sons and its daughters,
That bloom on the banks where the Kennebec flows!
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