 | Verses of a life time |  |
236
TO MISS ---, AND HER NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS.
At morn, when nature lay in early dew,
At noon, when shading branches screen'd the sun,
At twilight, when the parting glow of day
Blush'd on her cheek, or kiss'd her wavy hair,
Or, when the moon with silver radiance ting'd,
Flooded its growing leaves—she watched her bud.
At noon, when shading branches screen'd the sun,
At twilight, when the parting glow of day
Blush'd on her cheek, or kiss'd her wavy hair,
Or, when the moon with silver radiance ting'd,
Flooded its growing leaves—she watched her bud.
It oped its gentle eye at evening hour,
Slow as the virgin's from a happy dream;
Her dark glance turn'd upon its petals pure,
And soft as pure, like new-bath'd infancy;
Her fring'd lids, trembling with her eager joy,
Bow'd o'er its stamens, fring'd, and trembling too.
Slow as the virgin's from a happy dream;
Her dark glance turn'd upon its petals pure,
And soft as pure, like new-bath'd infancy;
Her fring'd lids, trembling with her eager joy,
Bow'd o'er its stamens, fring'd, and trembling too.
Odors stole up in silence from its leaves,
And met those lips, that, bent in curious joy,
Sent back their perfume, to its scented cell.
She gazed far down that many stamen'd cell,
And saw the mysteries of Flora's shrine.
O, lady, study thus the opening folds
Of thy young heart's deep fount, and thou shalt find
As tender mysteries there, as sweet and strange;
And know that naught but Deity could frame
That flower and thee.
It is a “thrice told” prayer
I ask for thee, fair student of this flower,
Yet not less grateful that it is not new;
When sorrow's night shall come, and come it will
To shade the flushing of thy happy prime,
May flowers like this burst forth amid the gloom,
And cheer and bless thy way.
And met those lips, that, bent in curious joy,
Sent back their perfume, to its scented cell.
237
And saw the mysteries of Flora's shrine.
O, lady, study thus the opening folds
Of thy young heart's deep fount, and thou shalt find
As tender mysteries there, as sweet and strange;
And know that naught but Deity could frame
That flower and thee.
It is a “thrice told” prayer
I ask for thee, fair student of this flower,
Yet not less grateful that it is not new;
When sorrow's night shall come, and come it will
To shade the flushing of thy happy prime,
May flowers like this burst forth amid the gloom,
And cheer and bless thy way.
| Verses of a life time | |