Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/The Creation
THE CREATION.
BEING the first number selected as a specimen of a series of pieces on scripture subjects, intended for the use of young people.
WHEN night and Chaos reign'd with awful sway,
And o'er the unform'd earth thick darkness lay,
The Almighty voice awoke the kindling strife,
And call'd the dormant elements to life.
"Let there be light;" a sudden ray there came,
Like ether, pure, and piercing as the flame;
"Let day arise;" a blush of purple flow'd;
The young dawn trembled, and the morning glow'd;
"Let night divide the empire of the day,"
And frowning darkness claim'd his ancient sway.
Then like an arch the azure skies were rear'd,
The seas were gather'd, and the earth appear'd;
Clad with fresh flowers, and plants of gentle root,
Herb yielding seed, and tree presenting fruit.
Then, where the curving skies the Ocean prest,
The Sun, all glowing, darted from his rest;
Pale cast the moon her first, and timid glance,
And the stars sparkled o'er the blue expanse.
Mild Ocean's waves with scaly silver glow'd,
Birds soar'd in air, and hover'd o'er the flood;
Above, around, the tones of rapture sigh'd,
"Live, and rejoice," the forming God reply'd,
"Sport on the cloud, and thro' the waters glide."
Next, rising slow, a mix'd and varied birth,
Unnumber'd beasts came roving o'er the earth,
They crept, they sported wild, they stalk'd with pride,
Or cropt the grass, or drank the limpid tide;
Some, with aw'd gaze, the wondrous scene survey'd,
And some slept fearless, in the cooling shade.
Serene, the great Creator clos'd his plan,
And stamp'd his image on the form of man;
Gave life and motion to a mass of clay,
Eye speaking thought, and brow denoting sway,
Reason to judge, and majesty to awe,
Sole monarch, holding sway o'er all he saw.
Last, came a female form, more soft and fair,
And Eden smil'd to see the stranger there.
Then tones of joy, from harps seraphic rung,
The stars of Morning in their courses sung,
Earth echo'd back the shout of grateful love,
From hill and valley, cavern, stream and grove;
Man fill'd with praise in silent rapture stood,
God bow'd to view his work, and God pronounc'd it good.