Scenes of my Hope! the aching eye you leave Like yon bright hues that paint the clouds of eve! Tearful and saddening with the saddened blaze Mine eye the gleam pursues with wistful gaze : Sees shades on shades with deeper tint impend, Till chill and damp the moonless night descend. THE ROSE. As late each flower that sweetest blows I plucked, the Garden's pride! Within the petals of a Rose A sleeping Love I spied. I softly seized the unguarded Power, And placed him, caged within the flower, On spotless Sara's breast. But when unweeting of the guile Awoke the prisoner sweet, He struggled to escape awhile And stamped his faery feet. Ah! soon the soul-entrancing sight He gazed! he thrilled with deep delight! Then clapped his wings for joy. "And O!" he cried- “of magic kind What charms this Throne endear! Some other Love let Venus find I'll fix my empire here." THE KISS. ONE kiss, dear maid! I said and sighed Too well those lovely lips disclose Poor little Foal of an oppressed Race! But what thy dulled Spirits hath dismayed, Meek Child of Misery! thy future fate? The starving meal, and all the thousand aches Chained to a Log within a narrow spot, While sweet around her waves the tempting Green! For much I fear me that He lives like thee, How askingly its footsteps hither bend, It seems to say, "And have I then one Friend ?" How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play, HAPPINESS. ON wide, or narrow scale shall Man Or upwards dart with soaring force, And fair and bright Life's prospects seem, With foot advanc'd and anxious heart At low Pride's frequent frowns to sigh, Pale Disappointment hangs her head O'er darling Expectation dead! The scene is changed and Fortune's gale Shall belly out each prosperous sail. Yet sudden wealth full well I know Did never Happiness bestow. That wealth, to which we were not born Dooms us to sorrow or to scorn. Behold yon flock which long had trod Whose fascination thousands own, Shall thy brows wear the stoic frown? Her maniac joys, that know no measure, That surely aims his dart of lead. "But say, Life's joys unmix'd were given To thee some favorite of Heaven: Within, without, tho' all were health Yet what e'en thus are Fame, Power, Wealth, What's thine already-Happiness! |