THO ‘ around on creation I gaze,
And am struck with its wonderful plan;
Yet regret must be mingled with praise,
While I feel for the follies of man.
Tho’ the sun still illumines the sky,
And beauty enriches the scene:
Yet he cannot their beauties descry,
While the tempest is raging within.
For while the wild winds are confin’d,
And the tempests their fury restrain;
If the passions embitter the mind,
These blessings are given in vain.
As I gaze on the widespreading main,
And regard the wild waves as they roll;
The attention they seem to detain,
As pourtraying the state of the soul.
But the steep rocks imprison the deep,
When the waves are impell’d to the shore;
A watch they incessantly keep,
Nor are mov’d by the sound of its roar.
Not so when the passions assail,
No longer by reason confin’d;
For what shall her barriers avail,
To repel the rude waves of the mind.
Conscience’ small speaking voice of controul,
That whispers and dies on its shore;
Is not heard ‘mid the storms of the soul,
But is lost in their deaf’ning roar.
Now the evening is closing around,
And solemnity dwells on the scene;
While the dews are refreshing the ground,
And darkness has shadow’d the green.
And shall man so insensible prove,
To whom these rich blessings are giv’n?
Is not gratitude due for the love
And parental affection of heav’n?
Sweet gratitude, gem of the mind,
Which Angels delight to behold;
Thou surely for man wert design’d,
More enriching than silver or gold.
E’en the sun which has sunk from our sight,
Ingratitude seem’d to reprove;
Unfailing that fountain of light,
Ordain’d by the father of love.
His rays are extended to all,
They beam on each flower that grows;
From him they impartially fall
On the thistle as well as the rose.
So all that inhabit below,
Partake of the blessings of heav’n;
From one source true enjoyment must flow,
To all his rich blessings are given.
One Father provides for the whole,
Who lived ere all Being began;
Who regards the soft sigh of the soul,
And dispenses his bounty to man.
(Elizabeth Bath)
More Poetry from Elizabeth Bath:
Elizabeth Bath Poems based on Topics: Mind, Soul, Man, Love, Light, Sense & Perception, Praise, Blessings, Gratitude, Conscience, Gold- Poems (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
- Lines Adressed To A Young Friend, During A Visit At The Sea Coast (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
- Lines, (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
- Reflections In A Burial Ground (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
- Address To Solitude (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
- An Effusion (Elizabeth Bath Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, Light Poems, Mind Poems, Soul Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Gold Poems, Fathers Poems, Praise Poems, Passion Poems, Blessings PoemsBased on Keywords: embitter, impell, parental, enriching, insensible, illumines, impartially, dispenses, enriches, pourtraying