Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

SOUL AND COUNTRY

ARISE, my slumbering soul! arise, And learn what yet remains for thee To dree or do!

;

The signs are flaming in the skies
A struggling world would yet be free,
And live anew.

The earthquake hath not yet been born
That soon shall rock the lands around,
Beneath their base

Immortal Freedom's thunder horn
As yet yields but a doleful sound
To Europe's race.

Look round, my soul! and see, and say
If those about thee understand

Their mission here:

The will to smite, the power to slay,
Abound in every heart and hand
Afar, anear;

But, God! must yet the conqueror's sword
Pierce mind, as heart, in this proud year?
O, dream it not!

It sounds a false, blaspheming word,
Begot and born of moral fear,
And ill-begot.

To leave the world a name is nought:
To leave a name for glorious deeds
And works of love,

A name to waken lightning thought
And fire the soul of him who reads,
This tells above.

Napoleon sinks to-day before
The ungilded shrine, the single soul
Of Washington:

Truth's name alone shall man adore
Long as the waves of Time shall roll
Henceforward on.

[blocks in formation]

Helen Selina, Lady Dufferin

LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT

I'm sittin' on the stile, Mary,

Where we sat side by side
On a bright May mornin' long ago,
When first you were my bride.

The corn was springin' fresh and green,
And the lark sang loud and high,
And the red was on your lip, Mary,
And the love-light in your eye.

The place is little changed, Mary,
The day is bright as then,
The lark's loud song is in my ear,

And the corn is green again;
But I miss the soft clasp of your hand,
And your breath, warm on my cheek :
And I still keep list'nin' for the words
You never more will speak.

'Tis but a step down yonder lane,

And the little church stands near The church where we were wed, Mary; I see the spire from here.

But the graveyard lies between, Mary, And my step might break your rest – For I've laid you, darling, down to sleep, With your baby on your breast.

I'm very lonely now, Mary,

For the poor make no new friends; But, oh! they love the better still

The few our Father sends. And you were all I had, Mary,

My blessin' and my pride:

There's nothing left to care for now,
Since my poor Mary died.

[blocks in formation]

gone;

There was comfort ever on your lip,

And the kind look on your brow
I bless you, Mary, for that same,
Though you cannot hear me now.

I thank you for the patient smile
When your heart was fit to break,
When the hunger pain was gnawin' there,
And you hid it for my sake ;

I bless you for the pleasant word,
When your heart was sad and sore
Oh! I'm thankful you are gone, Mary,
Where grief can't reach you more!

I'm biddin' you a long farewell,
My Mary-kind and true!
But I'll not forget you, darling,
In the land I'm goin' to :

They say there 's bread and work for all,

And the sun shines always there,
But I'll not forget old Ireland,
Were it fifty times as fair!

And often in those grand old woods
I'll sit, and shut my eyes,
And my heart will travel back again
To the place where Mary lies;
And I'll think I see the little stile
Where we sat side by side,

And the springin' corn, and the bright May

morn,

When first you were my bride.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

The king blew a blast on his bugle horn
(Silence !)

No answer came; but faint and forlorn
An echo return'd on the cold gray morn,
Like the breath of a spirit sighing.
The castle portal stood grimly wide;
None welcom❜d the king from that weary
ride;

For dead, in the light of the dawning day,
The pale sweet form of the welcomer lay,
Who had yearn'd for his voice while
dying!

The panting steed, with a drooping crest, Stood weary:

The king return'd from her chamber of rest, The thick sobs choking in his breast;

And, that dumb companion eyeing, The tears gush'd forth which he strove to check;

He bowed his head on his charger's neck: "O steed that every nerve didst strain, Dear steed, our ride hath been in vain

To the halls where my love lay dying!"

LOVE NOT

Love not, love not! ye hapless sons of clay! Hope's gayest wreaths are made of earthly flowers

Things that are made to fade and fall away Ere they have blossom'd for a few short hours.

Love not!

Love not! the thing ye love may change : The rosy lip may cease to smile on you, The kindly-beaming eye grow cold and strange,

The heart still warmly beat, yet not be true. Love not!

Love not! the thing you love may die, May perish from the gay and gladsome earth;

The silent stars, the blue and smiling sky, Beam o'er its grave, as once upon its birth. Love not!

Love not! oh warning vainly said
In present hours as in the years gone by ;
Love flings a halo round the dear ones'
head,

Faultless, immortal, till they change or die.
Love not!

« AnteriorContinuar »