54
POEMS.
Unwelcome foe may ne'er intrude
The soul's deep peace to mar;
Nor doth one cloud of doubt enshroud
Faith's ever-beaming star.
The soul's deep peace to mar;
Nor doth one cloud of doubt enshroud
Faith's ever-beaming star.
No setting sun, no waning moon,
In this my world are seen;
Among the flowers, in these fair bowers,
No serpent's trail hath been.
In this my world are seen;
Among the flowers, in these fair bowers,
No serpent's trail hath been.
Through this my world a healing stream
Of heaven-born pity flows;
Green on its banks the tree of Hope
Yields balm for heaviest woes.
Of heaven-born pity flows;
Green on its banks the tree of Hope
Yields balm for heaviest woes.
I leave my world as quits the bird
Its quiet, downy nest,
To cheer with song the darkened home,
And gladden some sad breast.
Its quiet, downy nest,
To cheer with song the darkened home,
And gladden some sad breast.
For sight of sorrow lends a charm
To every poet's lay;
And human harps yield sweetest strains
When Grief's pale fingers play.
To every poet's lay;
And human harps yield sweetest strains
When Grief's pale fingers play.
From venom nectar I distil,
And sparkling honey-dew;
And sparkling honey-dew;