Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-22
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1926.
POETRY.
PAINTING-A RECONSIDERATION.
RI, Dr. Psrcirnl

POETRY.
PAINTING-A RECONCILIATION.
By d.. Pereirai.
One bright sunshiny autumn day
When the leaves were just beginning to fade,
I saw gay and laughing maid
Stand by the side ola public way.
There she stood, erect and tall;
Her howery cheek had caught the dyes
of the earliest dawn-and @! her eyes
Not star that shoots or flies,
But those dark eyes outshine them all.
She stood with long and slender wand,
With tassel of hair at is pointed hpi
Aud fast as the dews from a forest drip,
When the summer shower has bathed the land,
So quick thousand coors came,
Darling along like shapes of fame,
At every turn of her gliding hand.
She gave form to the bodess air,
And clear as a mirrored sheet it lay;
And phantoms would come and pass away,
As her magical rod was pointed there.
First, the shape of budding rose,
Just unfolding its tenderleaf;
Then, all unbound its virgin zone,
Full in its pride and beauty blown,
1t heavily hang, like nodding sheaf,
And cloud of perfume around it flows.
Then mingling of vale and Hill,
Hung round with woody screen
o, how alive its qtIverng green;
And there babbGng brook is seen
To turn the wheel of moss grown mill:
There is clear and grassy pool,
And boy lies idly along its brink,
And he drops pebble to see it sink
Down inthat depth, so calm and cooli
And out from behind bowering tree
There peeps a maiden crowned with flowers;
The two ale innocent psramours-
Ar her delicate laugh he turns to see,
And then she darts like frighted fawn
That springs away from the turfy lawn,
And far in the tangled thicket COVERS
So she flies in haste to hide
The blush that mantles her cheek and brow;
Then he laughingly turns his eye aside
To the quiet brooks eternal Aow.
There you may see warrior horse,
All his trappings are dropped with gold
How his eve sparkles! and o! how bold,
As he springs away in his pride and force.
There dark and keeneyed Moor
Hangs and pulls at MS bride rein,
III, all his skill and might are vain;
Ne FRANCES and tosses-and, bark! away
Bright as the flashing s.eeds ofday,
He has broke from his keeper, and nnSs MS niane'
Like streaming meteor, over the PLAIN
Can YOU not see the creature neigh,
In his vapory nostrils painting wide,
In his tossing head and his arch ofpride.
And his rapid glance from SIDE to side,
AS he stands and beats the echoing ground
With auivering tramp, and sudden bound
Then with tremble in every limb,
And an angry snort, he darts away,
And round in circle he seems to swim,
And bends or turns like lamb at play.
What is that comes from golden cloud,
Floating along IN thinnest air
Was there ever shape so fine and tar
And o, what wealth of sunny hair
Chngs around like ghttering shroud-
See! she raises snowy arm,
Pure as q fake, ere il leaves the sky
She waves it around with grace and charm,
And putting her glossy ringlets by
Shows to the sight lip and eye
Is il shape OF light and air,
A yermeil cloud, and midnight star.
That meet and mingle in glory there,
Or one Of the winged spirits that by
Like the prophet who rode IN his tiery car
No. 'tis being OF human mould,
Such as the bard in his lonely isle,
Close to his heart would love to told.
Back she throws her tossing curls,
Check. and brow, and neck, are bare,
I'enderly crimson, and purely tnr,
Like damask rose when it first unturls
Its feathery bosom to light and air.
Now that world of grace is calm,
Sweeter and dearer, but not so bright
Like flower when it sends the dew of night
Back from its breast in cloud or balm.
See on her lids the gathering tear,
Clear as star in the midnight main,
Such she might drop on her mothers bier,
Or shed for the youth who has long been dear,
When she parts and never may meet GAIN
o. what flashes of glory break
From that chrystalline fount Of love and Joy;
All her smiles and glances wake,
And those opening lips such music make,
As rings from the heart of the hunter boy,
whenhe springs through the forest. leetand prou
And the startled echoes are many and loud,
Loud as the burst of nations Joy,
In the rocks thai girdle the mountain lake.
Now for the touch of a master hand
See! how she poises and waves her wand,
As if in dream of busy thought
She sought for visions and found them not
Now il rises--snd look-what power
Springs to life as she lifts her rod
Is it a hero, or visible god,
Orbard in his wrapt and gifted hour,-
What q lofty and glorious brow,
Rent ike temples towering arch,
AS ifthat wondering world might march
To the altar of mind, and kneel and bow;