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Poems by Bernard Barton

Fourth Edition, with Additions
 

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VERSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


113

VERSES

TO SOME FRIENDS RETURNING FROM THE SEA-SIDE.

Forget not the moments
I've wander'd with you,
When nature was glorious,
And beautiful too.
When the dash of the billow
That broke on the beach,
Made loftier music
Than science can reach.
When the clouds, sailing over
The bright azure sky,
Look'd like structures of glory
That proudly pass'd by.
When the breeze sweeping near us
Seem'd life to impart,
And each glowing sun-beam
Shone into the heart.

114

O think of those moments,
When home you return!
And your social fire blazing
Before you shall burn.
While you, sitting by it,
With many a smile,
And sisterly converse,
The hours shall beguile.
Should fancy then wander,
As wander it will,
May it come back and tell you
I think of you still.
Should you, when 'tis star-light,
Look out on the sky,
And Jupiter's glory
Flash full on your eye;—
Will you then remember
How brightly he shone
In your lone sea-side parlour,
When day-light was gone?
And we sat and watch'd him,
As sun-like he beam'd;
While far, far beneath him
The beacon-fire gleam'd.

115

Or, when nights are stormy,
And winter-winds high,
When the war of the elements
Sweeps through the sky;—
Should it rouse you from slumber,
May memory awake;
And the sounds that disturb you
Be sweet for its sake.
Let their music remind you
How awfully grand
Was that of the wild waves
On ocean's far strand!
Be the tone of the tempest
Like that of the sea;
In its pauses of silence
Give one thought to me!
Then turn on the pillow,
And sleep until dawn;
And be health, peace, and happiness,
Yours on the morn.