"I count the hope no day-dream of the mind, No vision fair of transitory hue, The souls of those whom once on earth we knew, And lov'd and walk'd with in communion kind, Departed hence, again in heaven to find. The book of life; but if we read amiss, POETRY. DEPARTED FRIENDS. Written on Viewing the Heavens in a Cloudless Night. Who ever look'd upon yon starry spheres, Which brightly shine from out the dark blue sky, Nor call'd to mind the friends of other years, The hopes, the joys, the transient smiles and tears, Gushing from out where buried memories lie, And waking the full heart to highest ec stasy! Oh, what a glorious vision, when the moon, Silently gliding through her pathless way, Has reach'd the extremest point of her high noon, Shedding o'er this our earth her radiant boon, While twinkling stars, and orbs of steadier ray, Shine with a light that mocks the intenser glare of day! Oh, who has ever gaz'd on such a scene, Nor thought the spirits of the blest were there? Who, that beholds not in that blue serene, Bright isles, the abode of pleasures yet un seen Except by those who, freed from mortal care. Have winged their raptur'd flight to realms of upper air? The mother, who has watched with sleepless eye Her babe, and rocked with tireless foot the while, And when she saw the little sufferer die, Oh, ye departed spirits of my sires, And ye, the loved ones of my childhood's days, While now I look on yonder heavenly fires, Methinks I hear you tune your seraph lyres, Methinks I see you bend your pitying gaze On him who still must tread alone earth's gloomy maze! 5 |