Poems (Lassen)/A Poem
A POEM
To MRS. FRANKIE RICHET WALKER
Portland, Ore.
I watched the birth of each fair dawn, The rising sun, in glorious light,Grow into rosy morn. (A wond'rous, beauteous sight)All through the valley, And o'er, the mountain heightsDewy mists kept rising Veiling with vapors grey,The mighty trees, and approach of coming day. But as the ascending sun grew stronger,Its piercing rays cleared Mists and clouds alike away.And as some fairy magic wonder Earth's loveliness revealed,Superb, by perfect day. Now from the woodland hills nearbyCommingling voices of the birds, With the cuckoo's cryRend the air with untold melodies. Thus all drowsy earth awakesAnd lives and breathes In silent woods, among the trees, In mossy dells, and streaming brocks, Along the hills, in quiet nooks,And like one long, enchanting dream, So doth appear fair nature's scene.
I watched the coming twilight hour Forshadowing the night.The wonders of a Supreme Power, In countless stars that shown so bright,The climbing moon, behind the hill Shed silv'ry beams o'er rock and rill.And evening, now quite calm and still Calls forth the nightingale's sweet trill.I listen to the passionate song Of love's young dream, life's cruel wrong.Of faith betrayed, love buried, dead, All cherished hopes forever fled.Alas! that song of love and woe, Brings back dear days of long ago.Then sighing oft', my eyes grow wet, And dreaming, I would fainIn endless sleep, the World forget.