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University of Virginia Library

Poems of Nathaniel Parker Willis .

with a memoir of the author

Willis, Nathaniel Parker (1806-1867)

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Scriptural Poems.

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FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT.

HAGAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM.

THE SHUNAMMITE.

JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER.

DAVID'S GRIEF FOR HIS CHILD.

RIZPAH WITH HER SONS,

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(FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT.)

BAPTISM OF CHRIST.

CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM.

THE HEALING OF THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN.

LAZARUS AND MARY.

SCENES IN GETHSEMANE.

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Religious Poems.

TO MY MOTHER FROM THE APPENINES.

THE MOTHER TO HER CHILD.

ON THE DEATH OF A MISSIONARY.

ON WITNESSING A BAPTISM.

THE BELFRY PIGEON.

DEDICATION HYMN.

THOUGHTS WHILE MAKING THE GRAVE OF A NEW-BORN CHILD.

A THOUGHT OVER A CRADLE.

ON THE PICTURE OF A “CHILD TIRED OF PLAY.”

TO A CITY PIGEON.

A CHILD'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF A STAR.

LINES ON LEAVING EUROPE.

ON THE DEPARTURE OF REV. MR. WHITE FROM HIS PARISH,

A TRUE INCIDENT.

BIRTH-DAY VERSES.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON,

REVERIE AT GLENMARY.

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THE ELMS OF NEW HAVEN.

THE BURIAL OF THE CHAMPION OF HIS CLASS, AT YALE COLLEGE.

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[Come out, love—the night is enchanting]

THE WHITE CHIP HAT.

LADY IN THE WHITE DRESS, I HELPED INTO THE OMNIBUS.

TO THE LADY IN THE CHEMISETTE WITH BLACK BUTTONS.

YOU KNOW IF IT WAS YOU.

LOVE IN A COTTAGE.

THE DECLARATION.

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Miscellaneous Poems.

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THE SCHOLAR OF THEBET BEN KHORAT.

1.

2.

THE DYING ALCHYMIST.

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1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

THE DEATH OF HARRISON

ANDRE'S REQUEST TO WASHINGTON.

LORD IVON AND HIS DAUGHTER.

THE CONFESSIONAL.

THE PITY OF THE PARK FOUNTAIN.

“CHAMBER SCENE.

THE WIFE'S APPEAL.

TO A STOLEN RING.

TO HER WHO HAS HOPES OF ME.

“SHE WAS NOT THERE.”

FAIL ME NOT THOU!

TO M---, FROM ABROAD.

TO A FACE BELOVED.

BETTER MOMENTS.

SUNRISE THOUGHTS AT THE CLOSE OF A BALL.

UNSEEN SPIRITS.

TO LAURA W---, TWO YEARS OF AGE.

THE SOLDIER'S WIDOW.

ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL.

ACROSTIC-SONNET.

TO HELEN IN A HUFF.

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD PAYSON, D. D.

JANUARY 1, 1828.

ON A PICTURE OF A GIRL LEADING HER BLIND MOTHER THROUGH THE WOOD.

JANUARY 1, 1829.

ON SEEING A BEAUTIFUL BOY AT PLAY.

SPIRIT-WHISPERS.

UPON THE PORTRAIT OF THE HON. MRS. STANHOPE.

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333

TO LAURA W---, TWO YEARS OF AGE.

Bright be the skies that cover thee,
Child of the sunny brow—
Bright as the dream flung over thee—
By all that meets thee now—
Thy heart is beating joyously,
Thy voice is like a bird's—
And sweetly breaks the melody
Of thy imperfect words.
I know no fount that gushes out
As gladly as thy tiny shout

I would that thou might'st ever be
As beautiful as now,—
That time might ever leave as free
Thy yet unwritten brow:
I would life were “all poetry”
To gentle measure set,
That nought but chasten'd melody
Might stain thine eye of jet—
Nor one discordant note be spoken,
Till God the cunning harp hath broken.

I would—but deeper things than these
With woman's lot are wove

334

Wrought of intensest sympathies,
And nerved by purest love—
By the strong spirit's discipline,
By the fierce wrong forgiven,
By all that wrings the heart of sin,
Is woman won to heaven.
“Her lot is on thee,” lovely child—
God keep thy spirit undefiled!

I fear thy gentle loveliness,
Thy witching tone and air,
Thine eye's beseeching easnestness
May be to thee a snare.
The silver stars may purely shine,
The waters taintless flow—
But they who kneel at woman's shrine,
Breathe on it as they bow—
Peace may fling back the gift again,
But the crush'd flower will leave a stain.

What shall preserve thee, beautiful child?
Keep thee as thou art now?
Bring thee, a spirit undefiled,
At God's pure throne to bow?
The world is but a broken reed,
And life grows early dim—
Who shall be near thee in thy need,
To lead thee up to Him?
He, who Himself was “undefiled?”
With Him we trust thee, beautiful child!