Poems (Osgood)/Lines

by Frances Sargent Osgood

For works with similar titles, see Lines.

LINES

on howard's picture of "the hours awaking the morning."

She sleeps! on her cloud-pillows softly reclining,
 Her glowing cheek dimples with dreamy delight,
Around her white shoulders rich sun-tresses twining,
 With dim, dewy lustre, illumine the night;—

Yes! faint through the mist that enwreathes her reposing,
 The gleam of that golden hair glistens the while,
Making twilight on high:—till those blue eyes, unclosing,
 Shall flash on creation the wealth of their smile!

She sleeps! and the stars have gone by in their glory,
 Nor woke with their wing'd feet the dreamer they met!
And Dian has stolen to tell the love-story
 Her blooming Endymion listens to yet!

She sleeps! the young goddess Aurora!—so glowing,
 So sweet are her visions, she will not awake!
And silent and swift are the dim lours going,—
 But hark! o'er the stillness what music doth break!

Behold! through the mist, the fair Hour of the Morning,
 With smiles of arch meaning, floats gracefully by;
tier finger uplifted in frolicsome warning,
 With song on her lip, and reproof in her eye!

"Sweet sluggard! awaken!—Apollo is near!
 Oh! fly ere the god shall thy slumbers surprise
His flame-wingèd coursers already I hear!
 Aurora! my sister!—awaken! arise!"

And the goddess springs up from the slumbers that bound her,
 And pauses in blushing bewilderment there;
Her rosy smiles melting the mist-wreath around her,—
 Her gold-tresses shedding soft dew on the air!

Now slowly she comes!—Heaven kindles before her—
 Her lark warbles proudly his passionate lay,-
Earth woos with a smile the light step of Aurora,—
 And Beauty and Music awake in her way!