The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-24
7 o ETRY.
From the Gentlemaa's Magasrae.'
AN ADDRESS TO DEATH.

AN ADDRESS TO DEATH.
BY JAMES A. YOUNG, Fl. d, WASHINGTON.
Fell tyrant of the worll distinctions lord,
Whose dread command. earth. sea, and air obey
Whose voice above the roaring Tempest heard
Speaks in the storm. and bids the lghtnings Stay,
The world beho!ds thy nnasputed sway
Starts at tiny glance. andtrembles at tl'y nod
/ Views the unerring shat II may not stay,
And ruin marks the path where thon hast trod,
And man-creaiion's pride in life, in death,
clod
Stern king Of shadows, round whose dusky throne
Fits the dark bird Of night in ceaseless ronnd,
Whose phantoms glide and tortured spirits groan,
And eniless depths prolang the fearful sound
Here seated from his depth Of night Profound.
Forth speed thy mandates; nations fall kings die,
Cities are sacked, and carnage stalks around.
Where, thro' the voiceless streets thy victims fly
And echo mocks the mourning widows frantic
cry.
See where the tempest riots with the wave,
And oceans depths are upward wh:rled TO hea-
Where whirlwinds roar and gurgling whirlpools
.s rave,
And mark the fated barque TO ruin driven.
lis sails in shreds-its timbers wrenched and
Its fated crew dcspairing, strive no more.
But mady view the death 'gainst which they've
striven.
stiAed shrek is heard above the oceans roar
A gurgng sonnd--she sinks--the waves are clo-
sing DER.
Go, mark the plain where host meets host to-day.
And groans arise where falls the vengefll sword,
Foe graphing foe with deadly hate: to slay
The prayer for mercy uttered, but unheard-
The victim trembling on the victor's word,
And all of deaths artillery in play,
The roaring cannon and the reeking sword
Obey the power that sways and bids them slay,
Till on, DER fallen foes, the conqneror stalks his
way.
Co. mark the bed Of suffering ard Of death,
Where feeby burns the fame Of life, and wanes--
Where human power piostrafe, dies IN a breath,
And the clay tenement alone remains.
A death-ike silence through the chamber reigns;
The dusky pail flaps in The voiceless afr
The priest is praying for the parted names
A mourning crowd-the torch's ruddy glare
Breaks on the gloom of night, and lights the pass
ing bier.
Behold tn aboIe Of wretchedness and grief,
Where haf-clad virtue shivers in the cold,
See wealth. with gridging hand, deny relief
Turn from the tale Of misery oft told
To number DER his boarded stores of gold,
Leaving the wretch to starva. Oh piteous fate!
IT'S sinor death the wretched victim sighs,
Forwant is e'er the mart where virtues sold.
Tears fall in van-relief forever flies
The thrifty william lives where friendess virtue
dies.
Such are thv deeds, stern tvrant Of orr race.
Revolving changes on thy power await,
For all alike must share thy cold embrace.
The monarch and The slave common fate
Must share. One grave shall hold lone change
await
On all created things Till life has passed.
The last shall wither meath thy curse Of hate,
And the world proatates meath thy footstep cast
scathed and soulless wreck, where naught remains
to blast.
Then shall,thy power cease but not till then.
The curse Of Adam dies hut with bis race;
And it must .al on all the sons Of men.
No power can stay it, and no time eface.
Man lives his hour Of life. then yields his place.
While life remains stern death shall rule the earth
What e'er is made, destruction shall deface-
The curse of man attends him from his birth
Destroys his dream life, and desolates his hearth