Poems (Sherwin)/Lines on visiting overbury wood, near Bredon, Worcestershire
LINES ON VISITING OVERBURY WOOD, NEAR BREDON, WORCESTERSHIRE.
Enchanting spot! Sweet Paradise of earth! Here, wrapped in sweet seclusion, could I dwell Unseen, unenvied and unknown, In boundless admiration of thy scenes, Which, to the fond admiring eye, present A gay variety of beauty, ever new.
The lofty oak with spreading branches forms A cool impenetrable shade,—alike Resisting chilling blasts and scorching rays. In its protecting shelter, blooming sweet, The primrose mild, and lovely violet blow, And all the gay variety of wild flowers. The birds in fearless rapture warble forth Their wild harmonious music,—charming all. And thou, sweet stream, whose limpid waters roll In gentle murmurs o'er the moss-grown pebbles, Casting a dewy freshness over each Surrounding flower and shrub: still will I watch Your sacred winding course, until ye reach The middle of the grove to rest awhile.
Behold the spot! Sacred to heavenly love. Enchanting! Beautiful! Here could I sit, Beside this quiet lake of resting waters, Which reflects the clear blue vault of heaven, And muse untired. Oh! if on human life Immortal spirits do attend and watch Unseen, the erring steps of mortal man, Here in this sacred spot they sure must rest. Could I but shake the mist from off my eyes And now behold them in this lovely shade; I could imagine it were Paradise! But oh! vain wish: each bond has long been burst By man's transgressions—that spiritual And mortal beings, bound in friendly intercourse, Sad thought,—Death and the grave alone can now Effect our union with angels, and conduct Our souls to never-ending Paradise.