24 NO MORE SEA. Line ne' er fathomed, eye ne 'er scanned, Of the ancient world's domains. Leaving still bright azure ranges, Where the sunbeams bathe at noon, Leaving still some lake-like reaches, Mirrors for the silver moon. Only all of gloom and horror, Idle wastes of endless brine, Then shall blossom as the rose. THE CHANGE. I LOVE yon pale blue sky; it is the floor I gaze upon yon everlasting arch, Up which the bright stars wander, as they shine; And as I mark them in their nightly march, I think how soon that journey shall be mine! Yon silver drift of silent cloud, far up In the still heaven-through you my pathway lies; Yon rugged mountain-peak-how soon your top Shall I behold beneath me, as I rise! Not many more of life's slow-pacing hours, 26 THE CLOUDLESS. A journey like Elijah's, swift and bright, Caught gently upward to an early crown, In heaven's own chariot of unblazing light,* With death untasted and the grave unknown. THE CLOUDLESS. No shadows yonder! All light and song; Each day I wonder, And say, How long Shall time me sunder From that dear throng? No weeping yonder! All fled away; While here I wander Each weary day, And sigh as I ponder My long, long stay. * Θείῳ πυρὶ παμφαής.—Soph. Philoct. THE CLOUDLESS. No partings yonder! Time and space never Hearts cannot sever; Dearer and fonder Hands clasp for ever.* None wanting yonder, All gathered under The evergreen palm ; Ascends the glad psalm. * Αδακρυν νεμονται ἀιῶνα.—Pindar. Olymp 27 THE HOME SICKNESS. "O civitas sancta, civitas speciosa, de longinquo te saluto, ad te clamo, te requiro."—Augustine, De Spir. et Anim. AND whence this weariness, This gathering cloud of gloom? These greedy cravings for the tomb? It is not that I fear To breast the storm or wrestle with the wave, To swim the torrent or the blast to brave, To toil or suffer in this day of strife As He may will who gave this struggling life,But I am homesick! |