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Thomas Cole's poetry

the collected poems of America's foremost painter of the Hudson River School reflecting his feelings for nature and the romantic spirit of the Nineteenth Century

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168

77.
Alone Yet Not Alone

The desert flower afar may bloom
Where foot of man ne'er trod
Yet gracefully its soft perfume
Ascendeth up to God
And He will own the offering too,
And fills its cup with living dew.
Alone may sing the forest bird
Afar from human ear,
Yet there he singeth not unheard,
For God is listening near;
And He will cheer the warbler's breast,
With pleasant food and quiet rest.
Thus when before His gracious throne,
With grateful praise I bend;
I feel I am not all alone,
For God is still my friend;
And humble though my love may be,
He answereth it with love to me.
Each morn will bring a promise pure,
As dew to desert flower;
Each eve a rest as calm and pure,
As birds in forest bower;
Till death shall free my earth-bound wing,
And bear me heavenward as I sing.