 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
THE TEMPEST.
Hark! 'tis the tempest's hollow sound,
The bursting thunder and the rain,
While dense and heavy clouds unbound,
In torrents fall upon the plain.
The bursting thunder and the rain,
While dense and heavy clouds unbound,
In torrents fall upon the plain.
See, too, the lightning's vivid flash,
In quick succession fire the sky;
All form a universal crash
Of elements at enmity.
In quick succession fire the sky;
All form a universal crash
Of elements at enmity.
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The solid earth, as if with fear,
Trembles beneath the mighty war:
The waters too in mountains rear,
Loosed from the yoke of nature's law.
Trembles beneath the mighty war:
The waters too in mountains rear,
Loosed from the yoke of nature's law.
Behold the bellowing herds the heath
Forsake with haste, for shelter fled;
While shepherds fly, with panting breath,
In equal speed and greater dread.
Forsake with haste, for shelter fled;
While shepherds fly, with panting breath,
In equal speed and greater dread.
And see, yon ancient massive oak,
The forest's pride for ages stood;
Its sturdy stem in shivers broke,
Its head driven downward in the flood
The forest's pride for ages stood;
Its sturdy stem in shivers broke,
Its head driven downward in the flood
Toss'd by the waves the wretched bark,
Alternate see it sink and rise;
Now fix'd on rocks, a shatter'd mark
For furious winds and billows, lies.
Alternate see it sink and rise;
Now fix'd on rocks, a shatter'd mark
For furious winds and billows, lies.
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In vain the drowning sailors cry;
Their shriek is lost while thunders roar!
In vain their moans, no help is nigh,
Nor ship, nor hospitable shore.
Their shriek is lost while thunders roar!
In vain their moans, no help is nigh,
Nor ship, nor hospitable shore.
And does this tempest rage in vain,
And does no Power, with potent arm,
Its fury suffer or restrain,
From injuring hold, or guide the harm.
And does no Power, with potent arm,
Its fury suffer or restrain,
From injuring hold, or guide the harm.
Ah yes! a Power indeed presides,
Yes, there's a potent Being reigns;
Above the storm th' Almighty rides,
And every flash 'tis He ordains.
Yes, there's a potent Being reigns;
Above the storm th' Almighty rides,
And every flash 'tis He ordains.
Then calm each fear, and silent stand,
To learn His wisdom and His care:
The bolt, unloosed from out His hand,
Proclaims in thunder—God is there.
To learn His wisdom and His care:
The bolt, unloosed from out His hand,
Proclaims in thunder—God is there.
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |