 | Specimens of American poetry |  |
WILLIAM B. TAPPAN
RETROSPECTION.
'T is sweet, in seclusion, to look on the past,
In life's sober twilight recall the day-dream;
To mark the smooth sunshine, and skies overcast,
That chequer'd our course as we moved down the stream.
In life's sober twilight recall the day-dream;
To mark the smooth sunshine, and skies overcast,
That chequer'd our course as we moved down the stream.
For O there 's a charm in retracing the morn,
When the star of our pleasure beam'd brightly awhile,
And the tear that in infancy water'd the thorn,
By the magic of memory is changed to a smile.
When the star of our pleasure beam'd brightly awhile,
And the tear that in infancy water'd the thorn,
By the magic of memory is changed to a smile.
How faint is the touch, no perspective bestowing,
Nor scenery in nature's true colors array'd;
How chaste is the landscape, how vividly glowing,
Where the warm tint of fancy is mellowed by shade!
Nor scenery in nature's true colors array'd;
How chaste is the landscape, how vividly glowing,
Where the warm tint of fancy is mellowed by shade!
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With cheerfulness then, Retrospection, I'll greet thee,
Though the nightshade be twined in thy bouquet of sweets,
In the eve of reflection this bosom will meet thee,
While to the dear vision of childhood it beats.
Though the nightshade be twined in thy bouquet of sweets,
In the eve of reflection this bosom will meet thee,
While to the dear vision of childhood it beats.
And the heart that in confidence seeks its review,
And finds the calm impress of innocence there,
With rapture anticipates happiness new,
In hope yet to come, it possesses a share.
And finds the calm impress of innocence there,
With rapture anticipates happiness new,
In hope yet to come, it possesses a share.
If in worlds beatific, affections unite,
And those once dissever'd are blended in love;
If dreams of the past quicken present delight,
Retrospection adds bliss to the spotless above.
And those once dissever'd are blended in love;
If dreams of the past quicken present delight,
Retrospection adds bliss to the spotless above.
WHY SHOULD WE SIGH?
Why should we sigh when Fancy's dream,
The ray that shone 'mid youthful tears,
Departing, leaves no kindly gleam,
To cheer the lonely waste of years?
Why should we sigh?—The fairy charm
That bound each sense in folly's chain
Is broke, and Reason, clear and calm,
Resumes her holy rights again.
The ray that shone 'mid youthful tears,
Departing, leaves no kindly gleam,
To cheer the lonely waste of years?
Why should we sigh?—The fairy charm
That bound each sense in folly's chain
Is broke, and Reason, clear and calm,
Resumes her holy rights again.
Why should we sigh that earth no more
Claims the devotion once approved?
That joys endear'd, with us are o'er,
And gone are those these hearts have loved?
Why should we sigh?—Unfading bliss
Survives the narrow grasp of time;
And those that asked our tears in this,
Shall render smiles in yonder clime.
Claims the devotion once approved?
That joys endear'd, with us are o'er,
And gone are those these hearts have loved?
Why should we sigh?—Unfading bliss
Survives the narrow grasp of time;
And those that asked our tears in this,
Shall render smiles in yonder clime.
WHEN DEATH SHALL LAY.
When death shall lay this bosom low,
And every murmur hush to sleep,
When those that give affection now,
Shall o'er affection's memory weep,
And every murmur hush to sleep,
When those that give affection now,
Shall o'er affection's memory weep,
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I would not, when life's spark has flown,
That strangers should receive the sigh;
I would not, that a hand unknown,
Should, reckless, close the slumbering eye:
That strangers should receive the sigh;
I would not, that a hand unknown,
Should, reckless, close the slumbering eye:
But, on some throbbing breast reclined,
That beat alone to love and me,
Each parting pang subdued, how kind,
How peaceful, would my exit be.
That beat alone to love and me,
Each parting pang subdued, how kind,
How peaceful, would my exit be.
I would not, that this lowly head
Should pillow, cold, on foreign clay;
I would not, that my grassy bed
Should be from home and love away:
Should pillow, cold, on foreign clay;
I would not, that my grassy bed
Should be from home and love away:
But, in my native village ground,
Near kindred dust, these relics laid:
How calm my slumbers, how profound,
Beneath the old tree's sombre shade.
Near kindred dust, these relics laid:
How calm my slumbers, how profound,
Beneath the old tree's sombre shade.
O COME FROM A WORLD.
O come from a world, where sorrow and gloom,
Chastise the allurements of joy;
A pathway bedimm'd, with no rays to illume,
Save the meteor that shines to destroy;
Where the thoughtless have revell'd, when mirth had no charm,
Where the wounded have wept, but still needed the balm.
Chastise the allurements of joy;
A pathway bedimm'd, with no rays to illume,
Save the meteor that shines to destroy;
Where the thoughtless have revell'd, when mirth had no charm,
Where the wounded have wept, but still needed the balm.
O come from a world, where the landscape is chill,
Or deceitfully blossoming fair,
The garden gives promise of bright flowers, still,
The nightshade luxuriates there;
That sky, now serene, blushing lovely and clear,
O heed not its beauty, the storm-cloud is near.
Or deceitfully blossoming fair,
The garden gives promise of bright flowers, still,
The nightshade luxuriates there;
That sky, now serene, blushing lovely and clear,
O heed not its beauty, the storm-cloud is near.
O come from a world, where the cup of delight
Now sparkles and foams at the brim;
For the laurels that wreath it, reflection shall blight,
Its lustre, repentance shall dim;
The lips, that convivial, have pledged thee the bowl,
Shall blanch with confusion when fear rives the soul.
Now sparkles and foams at the brim;
For the laurels that wreath it, reflection shall blight,
Its lustre, repentance shall dim;
The lips, that convivial, have pledged thee the bowl,
Shall blanch with confusion when fear rives the soul.
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O come from a world, where they that beguile
Will lead thee to peril and fears;
For the heart that, confiding, hath welcomed its smile,
Hath found it the prelude to tears:
Come then, there 's a path by the reckless untrod;
O come, weary wanderer, it leads to thy God.
Will lead thee to peril and fears;
For the heart that, confiding, hath welcomed its smile,
Hath found it the prelude to tears:
Come then, there 's a path by the reckless untrod;
O come, weary wanderer, it leads to thy God.
TO THE NORTH STAR.
Bright Star, while thou thy lonely way
Pursu'st in yon expanse of blue,
Thy gem-like form and steady ray
Attract the heedless peasant's view,
And his, whose thoughts to unknown regions stray.
Pursu'st in yon expanse of blue,
Thy gem-like form and steady ray
Attract the heedless peasant's view,
And his, whose thoughts to unknown regions stray.
Full oft the wanderer, fortune's child,
Benighted, sad, and doom'd to roam,
Beholds with joy thy aspect mild,
That tells of happiness and home,
And guides him onward 'mid the trackless wild.
Benighted, sad, and doom'd to roam,
Beholds with joy thy aspect mild,
That tells of happiness and home,
And guides him onward 'mid the trackless wild.
Oft, too, the sea-boy marks thy beam,
When ocean sleeps in peaceful calm;
While o'er its breast thy gentle gleam
Plays wanton, and with sacred charm
Lulls the wrapt soul in fancy's pleasing dream.
When ocean sleeps in peaceful calm;
While o'er its breast thy gentle gleam
Plays wanton, and with sacred charm
Lulls the wrapt soul in fancy's pleasing dream.
And oft, sweet Star, at even-tide,
When all around is hush'd to rest,
My thoughts ascend, and pensive glide
To distant climes and regions blest,
Where wo-worn care and grief would gladly hide.
When all around is hush'd to rest,
My thoughts ascend, and pensive glide
To distant climes and regions blest,
Where wo-worn care and grief would gladly hide.
And fancy whispers in mine ear,
That those who once were here beloved,
To friendship and affection dear,
Now from this fleeting scene removed,
Repose, bright Star, in thy ethereal sphere.
That those who once were here beloved,
To friendship and affection dear,
Now from this fleeting scene removed,
Repose, bright Star, in thy ethereal sphere.
| Specimens of American poetry | |