 | Judith, Esther, and other poems |  |
THE SQUIRREL.
It glistened, faintly tinged with blue,
A varied wreath on either side,
As o'er the lovely Richelieu,
The wild woods only saw us glide.
A varied wreath on either side,
As o'er the lovely Richelieu,
The wild woods only saw us glide.
The sweetest breeze of autumn strayed
In sighs along its surface fair,
Or languid rising gently played
In the young boatman's auburn hair.
In sighs along its surface fair,
Or languid rising gently played
In the young boatman's auburn hair.
Fair Phœbus veiled his beauty's blaze,
With silvery clouds of softest sheen,
As he had feared his glowing gaze
Too ardent for the tranquil scene.
With silvery clouds of softest sheen,
As he had feared his glowing gaze
Too ardent for the tranquil scene.
Anticipation then forgot
To breathe a thought of future care,
And sleepy Memory whispered not,
Or faintly dwelt on theme most fair.
To breathe a thought of future care,
And sleepy Memory whispered not,
Or faintly dwelt on theme most fair.
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While thus we glided still along,
Save the low murmur of the shore,
It seemed as one from airy throng,
Had dropt a plume in flying o'er.
Save the low murmur of the shore,
It seemed as one from airy throng,
Had dropt a plume in flying o'er.
The boatman turned our light batteau,
But while he strove to reach the prize—
It lived, it moved, it leapt, and lo!
Sparkled a pair of jetty eyes.
But while he strove to reach the prize—
It lived, it moved, it leapt, and lo!
Sparkled a pair of jetty eyes.
It was a squirrel, light he springs
Upon the boat, to rest awhile,
Though fear his panting bosom wrings,
For he was wet, and worn with toil.
Upon the boat, to rest awhile,
Though fear his panting bosom wrings,
For he was wet, and worn with toil.
The little incident amused—
Curious we asked, “how came he here?”
“Why tempt the dangerous stream, unused
To toil so painfully severe?
Curious we asked, “how came he here?”
“Why tempt the dangerous stream, unused
To toil so painfully severe?
“Perhaps he heard the fearful sound
Of sportsman, as he sought his prey;
Perhaps beside him on the ground,
Bedewed with blood his brother lay.
Of sportsman, as he sought his prey;
Perhaps beside him on the ground,
Bedewed with blood his brother lay.
“Oh! man, all cruel as thou art,
Canst thou a pleasure but obtain,
It saddens not thy flinty heart
To think upon inflicted pain!”
Canst thou a pleasure but obtain,
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To think upon inflicted pain!”
But ere we much could moralize,
He shook his furry dress of gray,
And quick as glance from anxious eyes,
He lightly leapt and swam away.
He shook his furry dress of gray,
And quick as glance from anxious eyes,
He lightly leapt and swam away.
Sept. 20, 1815.
| Judith, Esther, and other poems | |