University of Virginia Library

LIFE'S JUBILEES.

When the earth, to light new-born,
With requickened voices sings,
At the flush of wakened morn,
In its gold I steep my wings;
Then, wherever pulses beat
To the burst of being's glee,
Revelling in glad nature's heat,
There I hold a jubilee:
Where first violets, sprung from graves,
Sip a sparkling draught of dew,
Or replenished cedar waves
'Gainst the tempest leaflets new;
Where the sea a murmur makes,
That the moon, with streak to shore
Through its crystal, glittering breaks
What the sun had smoothed before;
Round cold capes, where storm and sea
Lash the land incessantly;
In hot lair whence leopard leaps;
Down the dell where glow-worm peeps;
Where tall cataract's midnight roar
Silences hoarse lions near;
Where beneath hushed shadows hoar
Nightingale elates his ear.—
Now a sweeter thirst I slake,
Hugging children to their toys;
Or a deeper joy I wake,
Bounding with the hopes of boys;
And still deeper when I swim
In the looks aflame with fire,
That, to courage kindling him,
Raps the youth to man's desire,
As his glances softly thrid
Fresh-oped path through maiden's lid,
And two beings' ecstasy
Holds all life in prophecy;
Or with th' unmatched smile I play
Wreathed in love's warm heaven within,
Hallowing with his finest ray
All the mother's features thin,
When her firstling she espies,
And new vision win her eyes;
Or I dance along the blood
Calmly reddening in the hearts
Just about to pour in flood,
Fearless fronting deadly smarts,
That men's lives may higher be
After some Thermopylæ.
Where live knowledge, with a spring,
Victor-flusht a mystery bares,
And, her thought-light brandishing,
Far ahead a guidance flares,
Aye renewing manhood's youth
By revealing truth on truth,
There I hold high revelry,
Blossoming on discovery.
When the Poet's free far-seeing
Greets new thought with feeling's kiss,
Warming his illumined being
With a more than earthly bliss,
From his soul a lightning gleaming
That nor fades nor smites with death,
But with freshness ever streaming
Sweetens ever manhood's breath,—
Then, O then I joy to be;
There my highest jubilee.