Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-03-20
Ode TO the Moon.
BY SYLVESTER GRAHAM.


Which have been witnessed oft by thee,
But no! remembrance will not part,
With what it once too dearly priced
The bosom cannot cease to smart,
Whose feelings have been sacrificed
Years have gone past, since thou didst see
My bosom's too expectant flame;
Changes and grief have al,er'd me,
But thou art smiling still the same.
A little longer must brave
Life's gloomy cares, and deep repining;-
Then thou wilt shine upon my grave,
AS placid as thou no,c art shining
D! lovely Moon!-since, young and bright,
Thou first did'st start thy lonely way,
Millions have gazed upon thy light,
But they are gone.- where are theyl
o! where are they, who oft of yore,
Lifted the astronomic eve,
Thy hidden mysteries to explore,
And trace the trackless Deity
o! where are they, who from the height
Of Babel's heaven aspiring tower,
Perused thy soft, and pensive light,
Through many contemplative hourt
Or they, of astrologic lore,
Who wandered oft beneath thy beams,
BY Tygris' or Euphrates' shore,
In speculation's misty dreams.
o! where are they, and uho are they,
(For thou ddst light their splendid hallsD
Who reveiled life's bright hour away
In Balbec's or in Tadmor's walls.
Or they, who in ambitions might,
Piled the huge Pyramids, to stand
For ages mouldering meath thy light
Yet wrote their names on Lethean sand
o! where are they, whose armour's CLEAN,
All sullen as they lay al night,
Flashd back thy melancholy beam,
On lions bloody field of fight,
Or they of Rome-the stern-the bold
Who saw her glory, or her wane,
And deemed not Time should e'er unfold
Such glory and such power again!
Where are the myriads of bright eyes,
And glowing lips, which gave and took
Pledges of love, meath gentle skies
Meath thy serene and placid look.
And bade thee witness to their truth.
And gazed on thee, because it seemed
Thou vert an orb Of love and youth,
Thy pensive light so mildly beamed,
Where are the myriads who have crept
From the rude days offensive glare,
And poured their grief to thee, and wept
And wished that life were ended there!
They are not, and no more shall be.
But thou, fair Moon-undimmed by time!
Still fioaiest on thine azure sea,
And sheddest thy light OH every cline.
Thou geamest on the Arabs eye
Cheerest the Hindoo with thy ray
Lightest the Indians western sky,
And rude Sberia's lonely way
On Volga's and on Gambas Shore
BY Plata's broad majestic stream,
And where Niagara's waters roar,
Thou pour'st thy soft, nocturnal beam.
Mild, pensive Moon thou art to me,
Even as Religions holy light,-
Dim cleaning from Eternity,
Through NATURES dark and dreary night!
And as thou oft art lost in clouds,
While journeying thro' heavens vaulted scop
Zen thus, the gloom Of doubt enshrouds
The trembling light Of faith and hope!
o. have gazed through many an hour
Through many long-long night on thee
And have felt thy soothing power
Come kindly Ger my misery
O! / have gazed and have thought
How many heart-loved scene had fled,
How many a hope was turned to nought,
How many a JOY and comfort dead
Oft have gazed with fearful eyes,
And thought the time would come, when
Should lay my lonely head where lies
The dust of those of years gone by!
And there in silence be forgot,
When some swift years had onward swept;
And thou shouldest smile upon the spot,
Where |, and all my sorrows slept;
And faI,--far future years should come,
And many generations spring,
And cali this dreary world their home,
And feel, as have felt, the sting