Poems (Campbell)/To Miss Clementina Houston, on her leaving School
TO MISS CLEMENTINA HOUSTON,ON HER LEAVING SCHOOL.
From Scotia's wild romantic fields A blooming garland let me bring,Each flow'r that vale or mountain yields, Or blossoms on the breast of spring.
And, Clementina! round thy brow The blooming garland let me twine;It cannot, envy must allow, Deck a more placid brow than thine.
Yet, should I praise thy lovely mien, Or tell thee that thy face was fair,Thou'dst view my verse with proud disdain, Nor think my friendship worth thy care.
Long may'st thou bloom in youth and health, Thy friends sincere, thy lover true;And long thy path be strew'd with wealth, For then the poor are blessed too!
In that dear home thy smile shall cheer, Content and happiness be thine;No sorrow wake thy gushing tear, Nor bid thy gentle heart repine.
No dark disease with pois'nous breath Infect for thee the liquid air;And distant far the hour of death, Yet peaceful as thy midnight pray'r!
The friendship which I felt for thee, Thy sorrowing tears did first bedew;And when they sympathised with me, The infant bud took root and grew.
Oh! never may it be our doom To see that op'ning flow'r decay,But fresher, lovelier, may it bloom, As year on year shall roll away.
And though by fate's severe decree Apart we many a mile should stray,My faithful heart shall cherish thee, And love thee still, though far away.