 | Poems |  |
LINES
Written beneath an Indian moon, west of the Mississippi.
Sweet is the cradle of my life—
The valley of my native stream;
Where first my eyes were ope'd to see
The sun that lit life's morning dream.
Dear is that home, around whose shrine,
A happy band of brothers we,
Studied in calm retreat the map
Of pictured ideality.
The valley of my native stream;
Where first my eyes were ope'd to see
The sun that lit life's morning dream.
Dear is that home, around whose shrine,
A happy band of brothers we,
Studied in calm retreat the map
Of pictured ideality.
But ah! Time since has bid us trace
The wondrous mazes of that chart;
And from our father's door we went
With willing foot but heavy heart.
But one soon wearied in the way,
And gently sunk in slumber deep;
Then Death came to him as he lay,
And bade he should forever sleep!
The wondrous mazes of that chart;
And from our father's door we went
With willing foot but heavy heart.
But one soon wearied in the way,
And gently sunk in slumber deep;
Then Death came to him as he lay,
And bade he should forever sleep!
Sadly the pilgrims journied on
With aching hearts and footsteps slow;
And oft they paused to muse on him
Who mouldered in the earth below.
Time o'er them flew on airy wing—
Their pathway more uneven grew;
Till as they climbed the steep to-day;
To-morrow's hill appeared in view.
With aching hearts and footsteps slow;
And oft they paused to muse on him
Who mouldered in the earth below.
Time o'er them flew on airy wing—
Their pathway more uneven grew;
82
To-morrow's hill appeared in view.
A phantom bright with Syren voice,
Lured me the while to list her lay;
Careless of aught I wandered on
A thousand weary miles astray.
But ah! deceitful was that voice!
Tho' seeming near 'twas still afar.
So shines upon this moon-lit night
The twinkling ray of yonder star.
Lured me the while to list her lay;
Careless of aught I wandered on
A thousand weary miles astray.
But ah! deceitful was that voice!
Tho' seeming near 'twas still afar.
So shines upon this moon-lit night
The twinkling ray of yonder star.
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