Scenes and Hymns of Life, with Other Religious Poems/Ruth

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see Female Characters of Scripture. IV. Ruth.

IV.

RUTH.

The plume-like swaying of the auburn corn,
    By soft winds to a dreamy motion fann'd,
Still brings me back thine image—Oh! forlorn,
    Yet not forsaken, Ruth!—I see thee stand
    Lone, midst the gladness of the harvest band—
Lone as a wood-bird on the ocean's foam,
    Fall'n in its weariness. Thy father land
Smiles far away! yet to the sense of home,
    That finest, purest, which can recognize
    Home in affection's glance, for ever true
Beats thy calm heart; and if thy gentle eyes
    Gleam tremulous through tears, 'tis not to rue
Those words, immortal in their deep Love's tone,
"Thy people and thy God shall be mine own!"