Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Invocation of the Earth to Morning

Invocation of the Earth to Morning.

Wake from thy azure ocean-bed,  Oh, beautiful sister, Day!Uplift thy gem-tiaraed head,And, in thy vestal robes arrayed,  Bid twilight's gloom give way!Wake, dearest sister! the dark-browed nightDelayeth long her drowsy flight.

Most glorious art thou, sister Day,  Upon thy chariot throne;While, sitting supreme in royal sway,Thou boldest thy high effulgent way,  In majesty alone;Till into thy cloud-pavilioned home,In the burning west thy footsteps come.

When last thy parting look I caught,  Which turned to smile good-night,With all a lover's fondness fraught,There seemed not in the universe aught  So precious in thy sightAs thy own dear Earth, while to her breastShe folded her slumbering babes to rest.

I hear the sparkling midnight sphere,  Rehearse the choral hymn,Which yet, ere earth was stained with tears,Burst on the joy-entrancèd ears  Of holy seraphim;While the lofty blue empyrean rang,As the morning stars together sang.

Oh, many a joyous mountain rill,  And many a rustling stream,Calm lake and glassy fountain still,Tall grove and silent, mist-clad hill,  Long for thy coming beam;Uprouse thee, then, fairest sister dear!For all are pining thy voice to hear.

With trembling and impatient wing,  My birds on every spray,Await thy welcome forth to sing  With many a melting lay!Then wherefore, beautiful, linger so long?Earth sighs to greet thee with shout and song.

Thy flower, her vigil lone hath kept  With love's untiring care;Though round her pinks and violets slept,She wakefully hath watched and wept,  Unto the dewy air;And like a desolate bride she waitsFor the opening of her lover's gates.

Oh, then, arise, fair sister dear!  Awake, beloved Day!For many a silent, trembling tear,Falls on my breast like diamond clear,  In grief for thy delay,From the rosy bowers of the orient skies,Then up, sweet sister, arise, arise!