Poems (Terry, 1861)/The mourning dove
TRANSLATIONS.
TRANSLATIONS.
THE MOURNING DOVE.
(From the Hebrew.)
Alas! for I am flying Through deserts lone and dreary,In rocks and caverns lying, With downcast soul and weary;The tempest whirling o'er me, My fluttering wing repelling,The forest spread before me, One lonely bough my dwelling.
My God forsakes the altar Whereon His anger burneth,And where my weak steps falter, His wrath a whirlwind turneth;I pined for strange caresses,— For aliens madly yearningBetrayed the hand that blesses, And foes beheld my turning.
But since His love departed, Mine eyes have failed with weeping,My life is broken-hearted, Its light in darkness sleeping.Better the grave's dominion Than thus forsaken flying,And blessed deaths shadowy pinion To souls in anguish crying.
Behold the bird-mates greeting With fond and tender kisses,Where hearts caress, and, meeting, Find Eden's purest blisses;Their rest is fixed forever, Deep in the green boughs lying,Where olive-branches quiver, And lilies sweet are sighing.
But I am lost and weary, No home for me remaining;Among the cleft rocks dreary, With briers and thorns complaining.My God forsakes the altar Whereon His anger burneth;And where my weak steps falter, His wrath a whirlwind turneth.
Fierce eagles, sunward turning, Scream to their mates at even;But to the lone dove mourning, Nor mate, nor home is given.Earth with their rapine groaneth, They rest in peace unheeding;But when the just man moaneth, The heavens refuse his pleading!
Return, my God! my glory! Thou, oh, my consolation!Hear Thou the fearful story, And rise for my salvation.Unveil Thy love's clear shining, Above mine anguish hover,And when I lie repining, My sins with mercy cover!
Thus in the night I hearkened Grief like a hushed sea swelling;Jehovah's fear hath darkened On every human dwelling.I know when man assaileth The ear of heaven with moaning,That mortal courage faileth, My people's heart is groaning!