32
AN IMITATION.
’Twas gained, that mountain’s stormy pass;
But, chilled beside a mer de glace,
My heavy heart in vain would soar,—
The heart hears not “Excelsior!”
But, chilled beside a mer de glace,
My heavy heart in vain would soar,—
The heart hears not “Excelsior!”
The heart’s home is the vale below,
Where kind words greet, where fond eyes glow;
It withers ’neath those frozen skies,
Where the aspiring thought would rise.
Where kind words greet, where fond eyes glow;
It withers ’neath those frozen skies,
Where the aspiring thought would rise.
Above me the eternal snows
In the cold sunlight’s glare arose,
And a dread Presence seemed to brood
O’er the appalling solitude.
In the cold sunlight’s glare arose,
And a dread Presence seemed to brood
O’er the appalling solitude.
But now, on that unquiet dream,
Did one of stateliest aspect beam;
Whose brow thought’s kingly impress bore,
Whose soul thrilled to “Excelsior!”
Did one of stateliest aspect beam;
Whose brow thought’s kingly impress bore,
Whose soul thrilled to “Excelsior!”
Though but one moment o’er my way
Did the bright form beside me stay;
In that pale brow and speaking eye,
Methought I saw my Destiny!
Did the bright form beside me stay;
In that pale brow and speaking eye,
Methought I saw my Destiny!
And as, far up the heaven-crowned height,
Thou seem’dst to vanish from my sight;
Thou seem’dst to vanish from my sight;
