 | Verses from The island book |  |
128
[Where does the spirit of gladness dwell?]
Where does the spirit of gladness dwell?
The earth, the air, and the ocean tell;
Voices of joy from the hills resound,
And echo repeats the jubilant sound.
The earth, the air, and the ocean tell;
Voices of joy from the hills resound,
And echo repeats the jubilant sound.
It swells with music the woodland lay,
It hails the dawn of the coming day;
'T is borne on the ocean's azure crest,
And dwells where the sea-bird seeks her nest.
It hails the dawn of the coming day;
'T is borne on the ocean's azure crest,
And dwells where the sea-bird seeks her nest.
Life in all forms of beauty sends forth
Its song of gladness throughout the earth;
Creation rings with the joyous shout,
Or breathes in whispers its happy note.
Its song of gladness throughout the earth;
Creation rings with the joyous shout,
Or breathes in whispers its happy note.
The bosom of childhood is its throne,
It wreathes his brow with a sparkling zone,
From his eye laughs out in boyish glee,
As he bounds o'er the hills with footsteps free.
It wreathes his brow with a sparkling zone,
From his eye laughs out in boyish glee,
As he bounds o'er the hills with footsteps free.
129
It dwells in the homes of youthful love,
It brightens the hope of an early grave;
Look where you may, you will find it there,
For the spirit of gladness is everywhere.
It brightens the hope of an early grave;
Look where you may, you will find it there,
For the spirit of gladness is everywhere.
| Verses from The island book | |