 | A sheaf of verse bound for the fair |  |
41
NEWPORT.
Between old gable roofs afar,
I watch the shadows on the bay,
When o'er it hangs the morning star
Or steals the waning glow of day.
I watch the shadows on the bay,
When o'er it hangs the morning star
Or steals the waning glow of day.
Like sapphire gleams its crystal blue
Beneath the sky's unclouded dome,
While every breeze awakes to view
A thousand crests of pearly foam.
Beneath the sky's unclouded dome,
While every breeze awakes to view
A thousand crests of pearly foam.
I watch the sail across it glide
And vanish like a wing in air,
Or, mirrored in the glassy tide,
The anchored craft sway idly there.
And vanish like a wing in air,
Or, mirrored in the glassy tide,
The anchored craft sway idly there.
I see the fragrant zephyrs play
O'er clover bloom and twinkling grass,
Amid the poplar leaves delay,
That turn to silver as they pass.
O'er clover bloom and twinkling grass,
Amid the poplar leaves delay,
That turn to silver as they pass.
Through clinging mists that, as a shroud,
Its mottled limbs float dimly o'er,
Like a huge spectre wrapt in cloud,
I watch the dying sycamore.
Its mottled limbs float dimly o'er,
Like a huge spectre wrapt in cloud,
I watch the dying sycamore.
From Fancy's trance awakened soon,
I hear the ancient steeple's chime
Break on the golden hush of noon,
To summon back the thought of time.
I hear the ancient steeple's chime
Break on the golden hush of noon,
To summon back the thought of time.
42
But, when the level sunbeams fling
Their rosy flush along the deep,
And to the restless spirit bring
The vigil that it loves to keep;
Their rosy flush along the deep,
And to the restless spirit bring
The vigil that it loves to keep;
Then musing by the shore alone,
While near the shelving billows rise,
I list their dreamy monotone,
As, with each lapsing wave, it dies.
While near the shelving billows rise,
I list their dreamy monotone,
As, with each lapsing wave, it dies.
Or from yon green and craggy height,
Gaze forth upon the boundless sea,
That spreads beyond my eager sight,
The emblem of infinity.
Gaze forth upon the boundless sea,
That spreads beyond my eager sight,
The emblem of infinity.
| A sheaf of verse bound for the fair | |