Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-07-23
FOR THE INTELLIGENcER.
THE PRAIRIE.

TIE PRAIRIE. Sweet spot of earth where pristine beauties shine Thou fair Elysian of this sunny cline To me thy shade best retreat hath given. As calm, as any found on this side Heaven- Where sacred pleasures in the bosom rise Which nature with her liberal hand supplies From fountains uncorrupted-lucid streams, Forever flowing thro inspiring scenes; Where light and shade in softest colours blend, The heightning power of beauty to extend, Where harmony and grace together meet, In simple elegance of form compete-- Opening new sources of untasted bliss, Found in the calm, delightful shades like this; Where every breeze some sweet emotion wakes, Like heavenly numbers on the spirit breaks Where the soft air is redolent with praise, And light-winged zephyrs their pinions raise Thesweet perfume-exhaled from plant,and flower, Growing luxuriant here in every bower Altho' no Thames, no Avon rolls along-4 No genius gifted with immortal song, To sing thy prase-and celebrate thy fame With classic taste-that magic of a name Which penetrates beyond the passing hour, And charms the soul with more than mortal power With everfadng hopes enwreathed in light, Which genius twines to shine forever bright, And bloom with freshness thro' unnumbered years When earthly greatness from disappears. Yet eveil here, may future Bards arise, To sing the midness of thy sunny skies, And tune the Tyre. Where now the wild deer royes 1hro' howery meads, and unfrequened groves, Crops the green twig, and nips the tender flowers Ght'iing with dewy gems in morning hour, May the loved Minstrel's soft inspiring sound, Make these wild haunts with higher joys abound. And where this deep, this awful stiffness reigns Unbroken now, save when the dove complains. Reft of her mate in dying accents tells, The agony with which her bosom swells; May other notes arise, to soothe the mind, By intellectual taste, and joys refined; Such as have never blessed this solitude ordared amid its lonely wilds intrude Yes, here some soul of high imaginings May sweep across the tyres responsive strings, Awaken sounds, which never yet have rung, 1hro' grove or vale-or dropped from mortal tongue And bid new raptures in the bosom rise, To swell the grateful song of Paradise. Sweet spot of earth! language cannot express, One half thy rural charms of loveliness For have seen thee, in thy verna bloom, When first emerging from a wntry tomb, With all thy lowery train, empurpled wide, Flowing in graceful forms, on every side " h'e thciteFn, uic TOSeaIe Dr6atn 0f spring, Seem to inspire new life in every thing; When mild Aurora, bushing in the east Bid all creation on her beauties feast Darted wishfni glance, n potent ray, Der the bright landscape at the dawn of day, Reflected rainbow hues, of varied light, In every dew drop glttering in the sight. While the sweet zephyr with ennptured kiss, Snatched the rich nectar of the honeyed bliss, FrOm frae Hn,Ue i, To bring the sultry heat of summers day But here, the of meridian heat, Has lost it's terror in this cool retreat, Where plenty reigns-with simple pleasures blest, Detached from Pride-by no false forms opprest, Where the heart free, partakes the kindly fare, Which liberal souls, and liberal hands prepar+, Unconscious of the worlds deceitful claims Which keep mankind in bondage, and in chains Sweet spot of earth ! thou art to me most dear For thy young flowers have drank the grateful tear Of sacred sympathy-from the warm heart o'erhowing with that bliss, thy charms impart- Which soothe the spirit, like an Angels smile, The lonely hours of solitude beguile- Far from the busy crowds ofnoise and strife, With which the jaring world is always rife Soon shall bid thy peaceful shade farewell On which my raptured eyes no more shall dwell No more shall beneath these towering trees Where graceful waves the long moss in the breeze, Delighted rove-to silent walks repair, And taste the freshness of thy bamy air Or gaze with rapture on the Queen of night, Rolling sublime, amid yon isles of light. Altho no stream of Helicon arise No proud Parnassus meets the wshful eyes Yet even here, mild beauty's peaceful reign, Diffuses joy oer every veFdant plain, And gives finished touch to every scene, Which sparkles meath the suns irradient beam. That makes the harp with mournful cadence swell As oer its chords now sweeps the sound-farewell July 5, 1881. SIGMA.