 | Prose sketches and poems |  |
LINES.
[In one month I shall be in the prairie, and under the mountains in another.]
Once more unto the desert! who
Would live a slave, when he can free
His heart from thraldom thus? O who?
Slave let him be.
Once more unto the desert! now
The world's hard bonds have grown too hard.
No more, oh heart! in dungeons bow,
And caves unstarred.
Heart! bid the world farewell: thy task
Is done;—perhaps thy words may live;—
Thou hast no favor now to ask,
And few to give.
Thou hast writ down thy thoughts of fire,
And deep communion with thine own
Sad spirit; now thy broken lyre
Makes its last moan.
Thou hast laid out thy secrecy
Before the world, and traced each wave
Of feeling, from thy troubled sea
Unto its cave,
Would live a slave, when he can free
His heart from thraldom thus? O who?
Slave let him be.
Once more unto the desert! now
The world's hard bonds have grown too hard.
No more, oh heart! in dungeons bow,
And caves unstarred.
Heart! bid the world farewell: thy task
Is done;—perhaps thy words may live;—
Thou hast no favor now to ask,
And few to give.
Thou hast writ down thy thoughts of fire,
And deep communion with thine own
Sad spirit; now thy broken lyre
Makes its last moan.
Thou hast laid out thy secrecy
Before the world, and traced each wave
Of feeling, from thy troubled sea
Unto its cave,
195
Within thy dim recesses, where
The feelings most intense are hidden;
Thou hast outborne thence to the air
Thy thoughts, unbidden.
And now unto the desert. Why!
Am I to be a slave forever?
To stay amid mankind, and die
Like a scorched river,
Wasting in burning sands away?
Am I to toil, and watch my heart
And spirit, hour by hour decay,
Still not depart?—
To pour the treasures of my soul
Upon the world's parched wilderness,
And feel no answering echo roll
My ear to bless?
Once more unto the desert! There
I ask nor wealth, nor hope, nor praise,
Nor gentle ease, nor want of care
On my dark ways;
Nor fame, nor friends, nor joy, nor leisure—
Here I must have them all, or die,
Or lead a life devoid of pleasure—
Such now lead I.
No life of pain and toil for me!
Of home unhoped for—friends unkind!
Better the desert's waveless sea,
And stormy wind.
Better a life amid the wild
Storm-hearted children of the plain,
Than this, with heart and soul defiled
By sorrow's rain.
Out to the desert! from this mart
Of bloodless cheeks, and lightless eyes,
And broken hopes, and shattered hearts,
And miseries.
Out to the desert! from the sway
Of falsehood, crime, and heartlessness;
Better a free life for a day
Than years like this.
The feelings most intense are hidden;
Thou hast outborne thence to the air
Thy thoughts, unbidden.
And now unto the desert. Why!
Am I to be a slave forever?
To stay amid mankind, and die
Like a scorched river,
Wasting in burning sands away?
Am I to toil, and watch my heart
And spirit, hour by hour decay,
Still not depart?—
To pour the treasures of my soul
Upon the world's parched wilderness,
And feel no answering echo roll
My ear to bless?
Once more unto the desert! There
I ask nor wealth, nor hope, nor praise,
Nor gentle ease, nor want of care
On my dark ways;
Nor fame, nor friends, nor joy, nor leisure—
Here I must have them all, or die,
Or lead a life devoid of pleasure—
Such now lead I.
No life of pain and toil for me!
Of home unhoped for—friends unkind!
Better the desert's waveless sea,
And stormy wind.
Better a life amid the wild
Storm-hearted children of the plain,
Than this, with heart and soul defiled
By sorrow's rain.
Out to the desert! from this mart
Of bloodless cheeks, and lightless eyes,
And broken hopes, and shattered hearts,
And miseries.
Out to the desert! from the sway
Of falsehood, crime, and heartlessness;
Better a free life for a day
Than years like this.
196
Once more unto the desert, where
My gun and steed shall be my friends:
And I shall ask no aidance there—
As little lend.
Farewell, my father-land! Afar
I make my last and kind farewell.
I did think to have seen thee—ah!
How hopes will swell!
Farewell forever! Take the last
Sad gift, my father-land, of one
Struck by misfortune's chilling blast,
Yet still thy son.
Farewell, my land! Farewell my pen!
Farewell, hard world—thy harder life!
Now to the desert once again!
The gun and knife!
My gun and steed shall be my friends:
And I shall ask no aidance there—
As little lend.
Farewell, my father-land! Afar
I make my last and kind farewell.
I did think to have seen thee—ah!
How hopes will swell!
Farewell forever! Take the last
Sad gift, my father-land, of one
Struck by misfortune's chilling blast,
Yet still thy son.
Farewell, my land! Farewell my pen!
Farewell, hard world—thy harder life!
Now to the desert once again!
The gun and knife!
Ark. Territory, May 25, 1833.
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