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132
THE TWO PALMS.
As the last column of a temple vanished,
A Palm-tree, in a city of the West,
Stood, like a hero from his country banished,
A proud though lonely guest.
A Palm-tree, in a city of the West,
Stood, like a hero from his country banished,
A proud though lonely guest.
Perchance its birthplace was a holy mountain,
Or radiant valley of some tropic isle,
Near pyramid, or mosque, or wayside fountain,
By Jordan or the Nile.
Or radiant valley of some tropic isle,
Near pyramid, or mosque, or wayside fountain,
By Jordan or the Nile.
And oft its high and tufted crest beholding,
In each vibration of the arching leaves,
A plaintive strain I seemed to hear unfolding,
As when an exile grieves.
In each vibration of the arching leaves,
A plaintive strain I seemed to hear unfolding,
As when an exile grieves.
For solemn is the air of isolation,
And that lone offspring of the desert wild,
Wore to my eye a look of consecration,
That sympathy beguiled.
And that lone offspring of the desert wild,
Wore to my eye a look of consecration,
That sympathy beguiled.
133
No more around it eastern balms were stealing,
But smoke and dingy vapors of the town,
No Moslem in its pillared shade was kneeling,
Nor caravan sunk down.
But smoke and dingy vapors of the town,
No Moslem in its pillared shade was kneeling,
Nor caravan sunk down.
Before it once the sandy ridges heaving,
Spread like an ocean, limitless and free,
And the mirage its panorama weaving,
Rose beautiful to see!
Spread like an ocean, limitless and free,
And the mirage its panorama weaving,
Rose beautiful to see!
Now waves of eager life beneath it swelling,
With restless care mock oriental ease,
And chimney-stacks, tiled roof and murky dwelling,
Shut out the sun and breeze.
With restless care mock oriental ease,
And chimney-stacks, tiled roof and murky dwelling,
Shut out the sun and breeze.
Yet even here I marked, each day, appearing
An aged Syrian, sorrowful and calm,
With folded arms, wan smile, and looks endearing
Cast on the lonely Palm.
An aged Syrian, sorrowful and calm,
With folded arms, wan smile, and looks endearing
Cast on the lonely Palm.
And once he murmured, as the night descended,
While gazing fondly through unconscious tears,
“Fair tree, the promise of thy life is ended,
For here thou hast no peers.”
While gazing fondly through unconscious tears,
“Fair tree, the promise of thy life is ended,
For here thou hast no peers.”
134
How near the good we distantly are craving!
The Syrian long had weary vigil kept;
One morn his country's tree was gaily waving,
It blossomed while he slept!
The Syrian long had weary vigil kept;
One morn his country's tree was gaily waving,
It blossomed while he slept!
Some far-off nook of that vast city treasured
Another Palm by careless eyes unseen,
That drearily the lingering years had measured,
Yet put forth shoots of green;
Another Palm by careless eyes unseen,
That drearily the lingering years had measured,
Yet put forth shoots of green;
Until its ripened flower-dust uplifting,
On the stray currents of the tideless air,
With certain aim to this pent garden drifting,
A mate encountered there!
On the stray currents of the tideless air,
With certain aim to this pent garden drifting,
A mate encountered there!
Thus seeds of truth their noiseless flight are winging
And love instinctively steals through the crowd,
To hearts receptive consolation bringing,
They may not breathe aloud!
And love instinctively steals through the crowd,
To hearts receptive consolation bringing,
They may not breathe aloud!
Accept the omen, thou who toilest lonely,
And patiently Life's blossoming await;
Where God has planted thee be faithful only,
And thou shalt conquer Fate!
And patiently Life's blossoming await;
Where God has planted thee be faithful only,
And thou shalt conquer Fate!
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