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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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44

7.
For an Album

The voice of Winter in this howling blast
Tells of his quick approach—His chilling breath
Has from the shivering groves their covering cast
And ruthless torn it strews the burthened heath—
But O may wintry time be slow to tear
This Album's richly varied leaves away,
The buds of genius that may blossom there,
And wit's wild flowers innocently gay.
If here the rose of love should chance to blush
Or friendship's foliage tenderly entwine
O may no icy hand the flow'ret crush
Or rudely break the tendrils of the vine—
And may thy life fair Delia softly flow
A gentle stream through fields of joy its way
Untroubled by the bitter storms of war
Unclouded as a beauteous summer's day—
November, 1826