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The poems of John G. C. Brainard

A new and authentic collection, with an original memoir of his life
Brainard, John G. C. (1796-1828)

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ON CONNECTICUT RIVER.
  
THE FALL OF NIAGARA.
  
MATCHIT MOODUS
  
ON THE DEATH OF COMMODORE OLIVER H. PERRY.
  
A MARINER'S SONG.
  
EPITHALAMIUM.
  
INTRODUCTION TO A LADY'S ALBUM.
  
THE SHAD SPIRIT.
  
THE TREE TOAD.
  
SPRING.
  
ON THE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON.
  
LINES SUGGESTED BY A LATE OCCURRENCE.
  
ON A LATE LOSS.
  
ON THE DEATH OF REV. LEVI PARSONS.
  
ON THE PROJECT OF AFRICAN COLONIZATION.
  
TO THE MARQUIS LA FAYETTE.
  
MANIAC'S SONG.
  
TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES BROCKDEN BROWN.
  
LORD EXMOUTH'S VICTORY AT ALGIERS.
  
WRITTEN FOR A LADY'S COMMONPLACE-BOOK.
  
THE LOST PLEIAD.
  
THE ALLIGATOR.
  
THE SEA GULL.
  
THE CAPTAIN.
  
LEATHER STOCKING.
  
EXTRACTS FROM VERSES WRITTEN FOR THE NEW-YEAR, 1823.
  
THE NEWPORT TOWER.
  
THE THUNDER STORM.
  
TO A MISSIONARY,
  
THE ROBBER.
  
SONNET TO THE SEA-SERPENT.
  
“ĀES ALIENUM.”
  
THE GUERRILLA.
  
JACK FROST AND THE CATY-DID
  
MR. MERRY'S LAMENT FOR “LONG TOM.”
  
ON THE DEATH OF MR. WOODWARD, AT EDINBURGH.
  
TO THE DEAD.
  
THE DEEP.
  
THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
  
THE NOSEGAY.
  
THE STRING AROUND MY FINGER
  
SALMON RIVER.
  
THE BLACK FOX OF SALMON RIVER.
  
ONE THAT'S ON THE SEA.
  
PRESIDENTIAL COTILLON.
  
SCIRE FACIAS.
  
JERUSALEM.
  
ISAIAH, CHAPTER XXXV.
  
THE INDIAN SUMMER.
  
WRITTEN FOR AN ALBUM.
  
ON THE LOSS OF A PIOUS FRIEND.
  
THE TWO COMETS.
  
TO A YOUNG FRIEND LEARNING TO PLAY THE FLUTE.
  
EXTRACTS FROM NEW-YEAR'S VERSES FOR 1825.
  
THE DOG-WATCH.
  
SONNET.
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SKETCH OF AN OCCURRENCE ON BOARD A BRIG.
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II.
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III.
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IV.
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V.
  
STANZAS.
  
REVERY.
  
NEW-YEAR'S VERSES.
  
TO A DEAF AND DUMB LADY.
  
AN EVENING CLOUD.
  
ON THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER,
  
SNOW IN APRIL.
  
TO A LADY WHO HAD LOST A RELATIVE.
  
THE MOCKING-BIRD.
  
THE SWEETBRIER.
  
SONG—IF I COULD LOVE.
  
QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET.
  
DIRGE.
  
TO A LADY FOR A NOSEGAY.
  
“STIFLED WITH SWEETS.”
  
A RAINY DAY.
  
SONNET.
  
TO THE MOON.
  
THE GRAVE-YARD
  
THE SEA-BIRD'S SONG.
  
STANZAS
  
HYMN
  
STANZAS.
  
TO A CHILD, THE DAUGHTER OF A FRIEND.
  
THE INVALID
  
HOW TO CATCH A BLACK-FISH.
  
THE STORM OF WAR.
  
THE MONEY DIGGERS.
  
THE GNOME AND THE PADDOCK.
  
SONG.
  
ON THE DEATH OF AN OLD TOWNSMAN.
  
STANZAS.
  
“IS IT FANCY, OR IS IT FACT?”
  
ON A RAINBOW AT NIGHT.
  
TO A FRIEND IN THE NAVY, SICK AT HOME.
  
THE SMACK RACE.
  
THE FOOT.
  
FORT GRISWOLD, SEPT 6, 1781
  
I KNOW A BROOK.
  
THE DROWNED BOY.
  
THE WIDOWER.
  
SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA.
  
EPISTLE FROM ONE ABSENT EDITOR TO ANOTHER.
  
AN INVOCATION.
  
CHARITY.

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176

THE SEA-BIRD'S SONG.

On the deep is the mariner's danger,
On the deep is the mariner's death;
Who, to fear of the tempest a stranger,
Sees the last bubble burst of his breath?
'T is the sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird,
Lone looker on despair;
The sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird,
The only witness there.
Who watches their course, who so mildly
Careen to the kiss of the breeze?
Who lists to their shrieks, who so wildly
Are clasped in the arms of the seas?
'T is the sea-bird, &c.
Who hovers on high o'er the lover,
And her who has clung to his neck?
Whose wing is the wing that can cover,
With its shadow, the foundering wreck?
'T is the sea-bird, &c.
My eye in the light of the billow,
My wing on the wake of the wave;
I shall take to my breast for a pillow,
The shroud of the fair and the brave.
I'm a sea-bird, &c.
177

My foot on the iceberg has lighted,
When hoarse the wild winds veer about;
My eye, when the bark is benighted,
Sees the lamp of the Light-house go out.
I'm the sea-bird, sea-bird; sea-bird,
Lone looker on despair;
The sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird,
The only witness there.
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