 | [Poems by Clark in] The legendary |  |
94
MUSINGS.
TO ROSABELLE.
There is light abroad in thy pathway now,
And a stainless smile on thy virgin brow;
There are dreams that float in thy spirit's sight,
Till thy young eye swims in untold delight—
Till the wide earth seems but a paradise,
Where the purest blossoms and odors rise.
With song, and vision, and footstep free,
Fair girl! will sorrow e'er steal on thee?
And a stainless smile on thy virgin brow;
There are dreams that float in thy spirit's sight,
Till thy young eye swims in untold delight—
Till the wide earth seems but a paradise,
Where the purest blossoms and odors rise.
With song, and vision, and footstep free,
Fair girl! will sorrow e'er steal on thee?
The world is gay to thine ardent eye,
With hues of joy in its pictured sky;
With a touch, like the wakening glow of spring—
It is Pleasure's brightest imaging!
And she cheers thy path with a seraph tone,
With a voice that is melting, like music's own;
Like the halcyon's fleeting and raptured lay,
On the far, calm sea, as it dies away.
With hues of joy in its pictured sky;
With a touch, like the wakening glow of spring—
It is Pleasure's brightest imaging!
And she cheers thy path with a seraph tone,
With a voice that is melting, like music's own;
Like the halcyon's fleeting and raptured lay,
On the far, calm sea, as it dies away.
Hast thou marked the course of a fresh blue stream,
In its light and shade, like a changeful dream?
When the opening buds, on its side, would fling
Their gift to the spring-gale's viewless wing?
When the soft, low tones of the humming-bird
Stole out, like Æolian music heard?
When the glancing leaves of the forest trees,
Were whispering gladness to sun and breeze?
In its light and shade, like a changeful dream?
When the opening buds, on its side, would fling
Their gift to the spring-gale's viewless wing?
When the soft, low tones of the humming-bird
Stole out, like Æolian music heard?
When the glancing leaves of the forest trees,
Were whispering gladness to sun and breeze?
95
Were there hopes that swept o'er thy spirit then,
While the stream danced on in its quiet glen?
Were there tears of bliss in thy kindling eye,
As its glance was cast to the golden sky?
Hadst thou one thought, that the scene would fade,
That a blight would steal o'er the summer glade,
That the cloud would frown in that festal heaven,
Or the tree's sere honors to dust be given?
While the stream danced on in its quiet glen?
Were there tears of bliss in thy kindling eye,
As its glance was cast to the golden sky?
Hadst thou one thought, that the scene would fade,
That a blight would steal o'er the summer glade,
That the cloud would frown in that festal heaven,
Or the tree's sere honors to dust be given?
Bright one! I would that the world might be
All joy and sunlight outspread for thee!
That thine early visions might yet remain,
When thy step has passed from youth's gay domain!
But thy dreams will flee like a wild bird's tone—
Like the aspen's whisper, thou lovely one!
Thy hopes will fade in the viewless air,
And the wreath lie dead in thy golden hair!
All joy and sunlight outspread for thee!
That thine early visions might yet remain,
When thy step has passed from youth's gay domain!
But thy dreams will flee like a wild bird's tone—
Like the aspen's whisper, thou lovely one!
Thy hopes will fade in the viewless air,
And the wreath lie dead in thy golden hair!
There is yet a brighter and purer ray,
Which will pour its glow on thy flowery way;
It will light thine eye as it flits along,
Wake thy soul to love and thy lip to song;
And the untold bliss of its visitings,
Will thrill to thy young heart's holy strings—
But 't will fleet like the rich cloud isles that glide
Through the summer-heaven at evening tide.
Which will pour its glow on thy flowery way;
It will light thine eye as it flits along,
Wake thy soul to love and thy lip to song;
And the untold bliss of its visitings,
Will thrill to thy young heart's holy strings—
But 't will fleet like the rich cloud isles that glide
Through the summer-heaven at evening tide.
Thou wilt breathe Love's sigh but a little while,
Thou wilt bask but a moment in Pleasure's smile!
Above thee will darken the clouds of fate,
And thy innocent heart will be desolate!
Thou wilt look with a mournful feeling, back
On the withered buds in thy childhood's track—
On the wasted hours of thine early glee—
Pure girl! I am sad as I gaze on thee!
Thou wilt bask but a moment in Pleasure's smile!
Above thee will darken the clouds of fate,
And thy innocent heart will be desolate!
Thou wilt look with a mournful feeling, back
On the withered buds in thy childhood's track—
On the wasted hours of thine early glee—
Pure girl! I am sad as I gaze on thee!
96
But there yet is peace! Thou may'st glean it still
From the crystal lake—from the prattling rill—
From the summer's glow, or the spring's clear glance,
Or autumn's faded inheritance.
Though Hope no dream to thy soul may bring,
Though Joy may sleep on its folded wing,
It will teach thee to bow to the chastener's rod,
While it lifts thy affections up to God!
From the crystal lake—from the prattling rill—
From the summer's glow, or the spring's clear glance,
Or autumn's faded inheritance.
Though Hope no dream to thy soul may bring,
Though Joy may sleep on its folded wing,
It will teach thee to bow to the chastener's rod,
While it lifts thy affections up to God!
| [Poems by Clark in] The legendary | |