Poems (Emma M. Ballard Bell)/Indian Maiden's Lament
INDIAN MAIDEN'S LAMENT.
Where the rushing, foaming billows Of a noble river glide,With the gently swaying willows Flinging shadows o'er its tide;
By its darkly-gleaming water, On the lovely flow'r-decked shore,Sat an Indian chieftain's daughter Mourning for the days of yore,—
For the days when through the wildwood, Through the forest, and the glade,She had wandered in her childhood Unmolested, unafraid;
When the red man down the river Floated in his light canoe;With his arrows and his quiver Hunted the dark forest through.
Once the sun its bright rays darted Over lands no white man trod;Now the Indian, broken-hearted, Sadly pressed his native sod.
With the fires of anger flashing From her dark and piercing eye,Scornfully the tear-drops dashing, Checking ev'ry rising sigh,
Wild and fearful words she uttered In that still, sequestered place;Wrathful imprecations muttered On the white man and his race.
"Time shall come, O pale-faced nation! When the Spirit ye call GodShall pour woe and desolation Over all the land so broad;
"Blood and carnage, like a river, Shall sweep o'er your country wide,Making hearts with anguish quiver, Bearing death-groans on its tide."
Then her voice grew low; and sadness Lingered o'er the maiden's words.Hushed seemed ev'ry note of gladness 'Mong the warbling forest birds.
E'en the dark trees seemed to listen; Lower bent their stately heads,Bright with hues that on them glisten When the sun its last beams sheds.
"I am weary," said the maiden; "Like some bird lost from its home,All my song is sorrow-laden, As I through this forest roam.
"Farewell, O thou foaming river! With thy lovely flow'r-decked shore;Farewell,—aye, farewell forever; I shall greet thee nevermore.
"For I feel that I am drifting Onward to death's silent shores;Soon, these tired hands uplifting, I shall drop life's weary oars.
"Soon I'll reach those sunny islands In the far-off shining sea;Where upon their blooming highlands I shall roam forever free.
"There the smiles of that Great Spirit Shall repay the Indians' wrong;Brighter homes they will inherit Than the ones they loved so long.
"Farewell, then, O foaming river! Farewell rock, and tree, and shore;Farewell,—yes, farewell forever, I shall greet ye nevermore."