Written Just Before Leaving England
THERE are bright mountains in the happy West;
The sun’s last rays upon their summits rest;
Above their peaks the feathery clouds are spread
In crimson streaks upon a saftron bed;
And purple forests clothe their reverend sides;
While the pale moon far in the distance glides
In meekness through a clear, cold atmosphere,
Gazing on glories that she may not share,
As age beholds the revels of the young.
Smiling upon the brightness o’er them flung;
Cheerful, not glad, content unmark’d to be,
And graceful in her deep tranquillity.
Beneath her glance the sparkling streamlets roll,
Like the world’s troubles, which some gentle soul
Has risen above, and pities sheltering trees
Wave their black branches in the rustling breeze –
The sounds of labour in the golden fields
Are sinking now, the hum of voices yields
To the night-beetle’s drowsy serenade,
As in the winding shrubbery’s fragrant shade,
It wheels it’s ceaseless flight, with lazy drone,
Round the dark woodbine ever and anon
Dashing, in reckless blindness, on the face
Of the intruder, who, with musing pace,
Presses the dewy turf. How bright, how fair,
This world of Thine, O, God! The Heavens declare
Thy glory, and the floods lift up their voice;
The waters dance, the little hills rejoice,
The meadows smile, the laughing flow’rts creep
O’er the green turf, and thro’ the hedges peep;
And all is joy. For true, for lasting bliss,
Say, need we seek a fairer home than this?
We need no bluer skies, no greener trees,
No brighter waters, and no fresher breeze;
No smoother path, no softer bed of rest;
We only need a pure and thankful breast;
An ear to joy in Nature’s thrilling voice,
An eye in all Creation to rejoice,
An earnest soul, their Author to adore.
A tongue to praise, a heart to love Him more.
(Emily Mary Barton)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, God Poems, World Poems, Soul Poems, Nature Poems, Faces Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Youth Poems, Fairness Poems, Happiness Poems, Smiling PoemsBased on Keywords: serenade, pities, shrubbery, intruder, unmark, rts