Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-07-02
FAREWELL TO CUBA.
Written on leaving the Island

FAREWELL TO CUBA.
Written on leaving the Island.
BY LEANpER KER.
Farewell sweet Isle, the south breeze gently blows
The snow-white sails are swelling on the wind,
The Moro Castle in the bright sun CLOVIS,
And sternly frowns defiance on:manknd;
While DER the foaming waves we hold our way,
And from her bows indignant filings the spray.
On her proud course the ship rejoicing goes
And city, isle, and all are sinking fast behind.
Farewell sweet Isle! to thy bosom came
A care-worn wand'rer from sicky land
leave thee now, but leave thee not the same,
For Upon thy bright and sunny strand
Have found that boon alone that makes life dear,
And me thy debtor fairest of the Isles,
Where natures choicest gifts and beauties are,
And where, in Eden like eternal summer smiles.
Land Of the sun, where flowers forever bloom,
And summer, autumn, spring dance hand in hand,
No winter here in savage mood must come,
To scatter DER thy ever smiling land,
His ice and SHOWS. Here nature never dies,
But youth and beauty undecayed, she wears
That bloom beneath eternal summer skies;
And ever fragrant flowers perfume thy rolling years
Wrapt iE the darkness of the ages past
Thou vert, and all unknown to ancient fame,
Hid like stat in the vast watry waste
And from afar no ocean wand'rer came;
Until Columbus, boldest of the bold,
The daring flag Of enterprise unfur'd
On these wild seas new wonders to unfold
And to insatiate man revealed richer world.
Nor must my muse though feeble are her 20 wers,
Omit fair isle thy dark eyed daughters here,
Each like a Peri on her couch of lowers
Impart enchantment to the landscape fair:
A race for whom cen Andaiusia's crown
Was won and lost on Andalusia' 8 plain
When one bright maiden's smile or angry frown
Could rouse to instant arms the chvalry of Spain.
Thy vallies still are green, each mountain glen
Still wears the same sweet, calm and holy smile:
And golden skies as soft and bright as when
Columbus rear'd his standard on this Isle:
All natures fair and fine, and man alone is vile.
The ocean still as load his pillows roar,
As fierce and frantic dash upon the strand,
And spread their snow white foam along the shore
As when the storm toss'd crew exulting sprung 10
land.
But lift the veil that hides from US the past:
tWhat time the Indian chief was monarch here;
What time the Indian maid in forests vast,
The garland wreath'd her warrior lord to wear,)
And view the change that Ter thy mountains came
When Christian plumbers solid thy virgin clime
What nameess deeds of wrong done in His name,
Whose cross they drsnch'd in blood, and darhend
DER with crime.
War, famine, pestence--all of earthly ills,
And woes unnumberd mortals fear and feel.
With judgments that righteous God fufls,
To work his purpose, and his will reveal;
And sad the gloon these hang around times page:
But yet sadderitruth these pages show
That learn'd, or rude-the savage, saint, or sage,
Man is TO man the dtrest source Of wo.
And yet fair Isle-tho' thou art bright and fair
Surprising fair, oppression weighs thee down,
For liberty alas! is wanting here:
Thou art the bond slave Of foreign crown
And DER thee soulless despotism reigns
Each heartless wish and purpose to fulfil
Rurd By the despotS law-the law Of CHAINS;
That bind thee to thy naughty tyrant's will.
Oh Liberty! thou first born child of Heaven
The soul Of our existence and its charm,
To cheer this dreary world thou has. been given
To free the oppressd and break the oppressor'
Thy empire is to be this world of ours;
Redeem'd from all the ills we now endure,
Nor canst thou fail, omnipotent thy powers:
Thy march is onward still thy final triumph sure.
Go to yon isle and let her feel thy sway;
Oppression there each lovely valley fills;
Ilnms Its darkness with thy cheering ray,
The night of mind sits brooding on its hills:
go disenthral the mind from errors chains,
And drive oppression from this sea girt isle;
Spread truth and kno Wedge DOR her howry plains
And make her smiling mountains still more brightly
smile.
Farewell sweet Isle thou brightest ocean star,
With all thy faults love thee, and will love-
My destiny from thee may lead me far,
But rest me where may; or whet her rove,
I cannot, wi! not thee forget, sweet Isle.
Thy hills are fading fast: and now no more
thee behold may peace upon thee smile
A. long as ocean raves around thy rock'bound