University of Virginia Library

[The earth is parched with heat, flowers droop and die]

The earth is parched with heat, flowers droop and die,
The clouds of dust fly whirling through the sky;
The cattle lowing seek the friendly shade,
By lofty rock or some dark forest made.
The traveller spent with toil, by heat oppressed,
Near some tall oak, exhausted, sinks to rest;
And dreams of home, of all his soul holds dear,
Dreams not, alas! of fatal danger near.
Dark low'ring clouds o'er heaven's bright azure run,
A bloody redness vails the scorching sun.
The river's surface, late so green and bright,
Rolls back its waves, dark as the shades of night.
Hushed is the wind, nor e'en a zephyr blows,
All nature sunk in deep profound repose.
The farmer leaves his fields, with terror flies,
And often turning views the angry skies.
See now the waves rise higher than before,
In wild commotion lash the sounding shore.
See through the air the leaves and stubble borne,
The slender tree from the thick grove uptorn.
Hark through the heavens, with peal of awful sound,
Rolls the deep thunder startling all around.
The lofty hill e'en from its centre shakes,
The bravest heart o'ercome with terror quakes;
See on the ground, by that resistless stroke,
The wretched traveller, the blasted oak,
In equal lot, by equal force o'erthrown:
He sunk in death, he uttered not a groan;
He saw no flash, he heard no awful peal,
From life to death insensibly to steal
Him God decreed; why then ought man to mourn,
From earthly joys to heavenly he was borne.
The thunder ceased, the gloomy clouds had fled,
Wide o'er the earth, refreshing zephyrs shed
The sweet perfume of many a laughing flower,
Or sighed with soothing notes through many a silvan bower.