Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-01

POETRY.

MELANCHOLY

MELANCHOLY
Ansba won't my plaint--ny troubled hcan
sHti psr ns sorrows through The lines of versc.
,ISs vvsss |. sll ,oo Iestae 70 convey
Ny Inward feelings :-Vaisy ns,ist my pm
ESng W wosds ~ tell my biter anguish.
!, ~ onu'd speak, my woes, tic hardest hesn
Wosid mel, with pity and the dryest eye:
yCss forth uneeasiDR ,ea1 for Then. indeed,
Language would he brt paibos- But nlas
Thcy srs tJo big for ulieranco-hollow checks,
And rsnten cycs, aud lIvid lips my ieet
rU0'nsg bcDvatb their load my bcnded form,
lNeiuhg 10 ie grave land all the signs
Tbat bussard n,is'ry STAMPS upnn her prey,
nsvsai 6ut slisbty that which gnaws my heart.
I've lsok'd ON nature and have look'd in vain,
To 6nd solne emblem VI my wrctcl'odnes.
{. I've thought 4 ciouded snr-o,,e wholly palid
In bsckcst night, and waUd'Tlng all ahnie
And tscles /; privileged no more 10 catch
11ss Kindred snillin.s II tire unclouded hostj
o. gance fts Iu-trr an the waveess lake,
Tbs, Hsd 10 hold us image n ~ bosom , -
Might picture somewhat Of the loneiness,
The dssolate clieehessnes that endure!
On nrm'ry tells ne oi tender bird,
Driven by tem,ssis. I'LL lis wearied wings
CSuid ssAr,e expand. Then, gradually The storm
Reientiny Into kindness died away
Aud tho dark parted clouds Tar ofward ron'd,
And lbo iu gid sunshine broke upon the eMth,
Th~p, sinking gently tw'rds the blooming earth,
1Ne gsS.op,o bird pouI'd forth lis gratitude,
In swertes melody, as though each tliroo
N n reviving heart declar'd IL JOY.
Bui, ruddeniy, ere yet lis weary wing
Nd eks'd " thin It's nest the gathering storm,
. Agais returning, fercer than before,
Whhd II away In breathlcssneIs, TO sasp
In lDs oIt op the bosom OF despair.
I've thought my fate had Likeness To this birds,
Bui aill show not half is bitterness.
] cAen muse upon The happiness
That Eiaddens my eocyals they 60 forth,
And gazs upon the aznIe tlnctm'd aich
Wal feelings peaceful Us the placid heavens -
Thav Ink arosi nd am lle lIppuiUu euTth.
An Ietelxnt with beauty and delight
They the ocean sparkling IN It's joy,
Ard smiling on tie sun they see the riven.
Wcnding their glorious way among The bowcW
THY hear tho woodland music, ev'ry breeze
Alive with harmony they see the lambs.
nspo..ing on ths mead and the mild deer
Viewing his sntleis In the forest lake
IN sQuirr, chat ring on the top-n II onk.
. Asl laughing III the wind that shakes the u.rh
h clngs a. ard The quick card innocent fsboh,
G1ppiug the morning dow, its only drink j.
rhsy ros ell nasure's pleasantness, and feel
J1eh hearts 10 dance with rapture at the sgfF.
Bet parako not Of the genial joy,
] go, and with auucken'd eye, the charms
Tkas bloom and breathe aroI nd INC but my hcar,-
The heart that once was nplurd with such views
Ibat warmd, diiated, tbhld, and secmd 70 wfsh
A thousand voices 10 exprcss its bliss
y siekcn'd with them n0~ for still arse,
Dismal fo!cbodrngs tbatthe lovely howers, .
Which scen fragile, shall myself outiivc,
And, wlrn ihay wltlIer, dnp their fadei leaves,
Lks smbienl< on my grave--tle irees shall r'rcad
1lsH slrivcl'd foliage U'er mo-and the wlnds
in sadness sigh among the echning reeds
That Autumn's 'lign shall siiffen on my bed
And wbO think, wIthout pang severe,
~ bidding Ia the world the long adieu!
Yosests aud gnIdsDs, with lheir tribes ofliIe-
The hills and dales-occaDs and all their streams
Tile elo,sog blue eavens, and moon nni ssars-
Aed Hssn, with AL his works towers, towns ana n1v'ee
Ne unisir-pini hi ngs-sculp ulpiIrcs-and ls lore
Al where these TO those who sleep ia dcdth!
And can II be that all love below,
Gan be foruaken with nor sigh!
Even I, though lost to ali carhs ovclineS,
And weeping 0ef hs beauty, fain would weep
A little Lnsef and In tneir 4. think,
That what N now 80 powerle<s to yield
One mon,ennry pleasure, once WAS all
Thai yo ing hnlginaiions picture JOY.
Yea, would lInyer here, Tor still ind,
That sorrow hath charm To make 2,e cling
To lie, even though still must sorrow on.
] am helpless shipwrecked mariner,
Zone on plank and midway IN the bay,
F5A rushing u the ocean. behold
The shoreD n bloom, with fnitage clust rag Thick
] zoe ths far of cottage, and cspy,
Fen walking 6s, ~ beach, my fellow, man,
And yet can signal Ia the shore,
Nor leave this sole support, and every wave
esi farther sweeps tow'rds the boundle-s waste
Wh~re h my hope now can hut resign
Mypslf unto the will Of Hun, whose eye
BehOlds my imminent wretcliedncs~ and still,
TASugh swiftly huuyng from the sight of all
That seems a rest for hope some ptsriiig bsrTio
May my floating form and yet deliver.
II not, sink: IL this my fate must be-,
IT welcome II with snIings, and will ye'd
My way-worn body TO the irJ'ste rs nav
:eure thai my God will guide him 10 some sle
Bggln Oh the b,som OF e.srrity,-
And make destruction land me safe from harm.