Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

MRS. E. C. KINNEY.

I.

FADING AUTUMN.

TH' autumnal glories all have passed away;
The forest-leaves no more in hectic red

Give glowing tokens of their brief decay,

But scattered lie, or rustle at the tread,

Like whispered warnings from the mouldering dead;

The naked trees stretch out their arms all day,
And each bald hill-top lifts its reverend head

As if for some new covering to pray.

Come, WINTER, then, and spread thy robe of white Above the desolation of this scene;

And when the sun with gems shall make it bright, Or, when its snowy folds by midnight's queen

Are silvered o'er with a serener light,

We'll cease to sigh for summer's living green,

[blocks in formation]

II.

A WINTER NIGHT.

How calm, how solemn, how sublime the scene!
The moon in full-orbed glory sails above,
And stars in myriads around her move,
Each looking down with watchful eye serene

On earth, which, in a snowy shroud arrayed,
And still, as if in death's embrace 't were laid,
Saddens the spirit with its corpse-like mien;
Yet doth it charm the eye, its gaze still hold;
Just as the face of one we loved, when cold
And pale and lovely e'en in death 't is seen,
Will fix the mourner's eye, though trembling fears
Fill all his heart, and thickly fall his tears.

O, I could watch, till morn should change the sight, This cold, this beautiful, this mournful winter night!

III.

CULTIVATION.

WEEDS grow unasked, and even some sweet flowers
Spontaneous give their fragrance to the air,
And bloom on hills, in vales, and everywhere,
As shines the sun, or fall the summer showers,
But wither while our lips pronounce them fair!
Flowers of more worth repay alone the care,
The nurture, and the hopes of watchful hours.
While plants most cultured have most lasting powers.
So, flowers of Genius that will longest live

Spring not in Mind's uncultivated soil,

But are the birth of time, and mental toil,

And all the culture Learning's hand can give : Fancies, like wild-flowers, in a night may grow; But thoughts are plants whose stately growth is slow.

IV.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

WHEN first peeps out from earth the modest vine,
Asking but little space to live and grow,
How easily some step, without design,

May crush the being from a thing so low!
But let the hand that doth delight to show
Support to feebleness the tendril twine

Around some lattice-work, and 't will bestow

Its thanks in fragrance, and with blossoms shine.

And thus, when Genius first puts forth its shoot, So timid that it scarce dare ask to live,

The tender germ, if trodden under foot, Shrinks back again to its undying root; While kindly training bids it upward strive, And to the future flowers immortal give.

V.

TO A VIOLET FOUND IN DECEMBER.

ILL-FATED Violet! opening thy blue eye

In Winter's face, who treacherous smiles, to see So fair a child, of parent such as he ! And didst thou think in his chill lap to lie, Wrapt in the fallen mantle of the tree, Secure as if Spring's bosom cherished thee? Ah, little flower! thy doom must be to die By thine own sire, like Saturn's progeny. In vain do human gentleness and love And breathing beauty hope to meet the soul Through which a holy influence never stole.

Though softening love the lion's heart may move,

It cannot make cold SELF itself forget;

Nor canst thou Winter change, sweet Violet.

« ПредишнаНапред »