Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-09-19
POETR Y.
FOR THE STANTON SPECTATOR.
SHADOWS ON THE WATER,
CAUTIOUSLY DEDICATED 10 MISS NJ. NJ. r..


The myriad forms, which are the Universe
inanimate, or thrilled with life-are each
AND all rcplctc with lessons for the wise;
And cast bright floods Of light ahwart the gloom
vi life, with radiance TO ilnmc the clouds
vi mystery, guide the mind TO those
Min parallels which give il joy.
:, We gaze
Upon the bcaming stars-those tear drops of
departed day, which, falling on her light
And flowing robe, CONCEAL forever there
10 gem its sable hue and as gaze,
The sweet reflection comes, that thus weir taught
10 look above III the darkest hour
when Fate's stern hand has rudcly torn away
Zach earthly idol at whose shrine bowed,
Then we may look above, and find some bright
Eternal spot round which the scattered wreck
Oh blasted hopes may cling, and make hearts
Anu treasures home the same.
Each little flower
That blooms beside path, and humbly waves
Obesance 10 the passing gale, tells man
10 bow before The storm, and rise again
Refreshed When clouds delay their tribute long,
Zach bows ts tender form as il in prayer:
But when the blessing comes, the dropping head
is raised, and points above, that we may know
The blessings source, and learn TO pray.
IT'S thus
Creations boundlcss stores excite those thoughts
Which wonder through Eternity, and speak
To us, in earth boru tones, of themes which swell
Zach seraph's breast
That quiet stream, whose banks
Arc dressed in Natures richest hue, with leaves
Which stoop to touch the glistcnng wave, that thew
May catch the cloqucncc, aud bear il up
Aloit, can thrill the chords Of purest thought,
And lend inspiration to the soul
How much like life, those images which fall
Upon that crystal stream! They change with all
Surrounding obects-ncvcr firm-than dreams
More transient Not one trace, that surface bears,
OF all the shadows OF the past. Ii tells
Us rot OF pictures once reflected there,
w hen tall groves of the infant world, their boughs
Entwined and mtcrlaced TO arch il Der;
Or when the artless Indian maid, before
This mirror bright, did braid her bridal wreath
The Present is our own and lest our lives
Should be forever thus unmarkcd-wthou
One lasting impress we should seize bright,
cal i'm heir nonm t's
Retain each lectipg thought which thrills the soul,
And stamp them all with Immortality.
Even the towering Clouds which seem like shades
of gar, pillows on the surging main,
But moving slow in reverence, as they
Approach 10 Heaven, arc mirrored plainly here,
And dcgu to mark the liquid with
Their glowing tnts As lc's illusions, so
These shadows seem realities, until
The storm distort those fancied shapes and leave
A troubled tide to mock the gaze OF Hopes
Dcludcd victim. Bright and pleasing each,
In day-light's beam; but soon the dark ened pail
OF night will mantle all in gloom: and those
Who watch their fading trace, must turn within
Themselves, to pencil on the soul those bright
But fading charms, which are The uttered thoughts
or Nature. Two eXistences we havc
The one is in the ard forms we see,
To perish when our Pickering lamp dies out:
The other kindles up within us; not
To burn a day-bc quenchcd, and leave no trace
But catches every ray and CLEAN of thought
Which beams on Natures face, to ponder DER
Them when the darkness comes And thus the mind
Has stores for deep reflection though all else
Be dead. But we should purge each entering ray;
For they will form dazzling blaze, 10 burn
For aye, and shed a halo round our crowns
In bliss or be flaming funeral pile
To light TO the world of woe and cast
lurid glare on what would not see.
Approach this lovely stream beneath its wave
OF crystal dost thou see thine image, Thus
Thou shalt lie low beneath the surface which
You tread but, "dust to DUST has sealed our doom
Then trust this earthly body TO the kind
Andtender bosom OF our mother earth
seed to spring in our iu,urjty.
Our minds have aspirations far beyond
The range Of sight, and fam would pierce the veil
Which hides the Mysteries Of our God bu, fast
To earth these clayey fcttcrs hold the mind,
And check its struggling energies. Not $50
The particles which fill this rivers bed
Had they the power what wondcrouS tales could the
Unfold, which mortal ken has meier conceived
Their tiny forms have traced through Natures veins
Aid felt the mighty heart throbs of our earth
Have played upon those mighty monuments,
Which are the history Of this gotc, concealed
Deep, deep beneath its surface. Tell me, all
Ye sparkling ones, what desert spot yc've graced
With morning dew Or, do our greet
The sense with fragrance like the opening buds
We slept upon mid Edcn's fowcry walks2
Around what monsters of the deep has been
Your course! Or, can ye tell the sti1cd prayers
OF those who ncverpraycd before, when high
The wave heavcd DER their sinking forms?
II SO, 'twould make the widow hope TO meet
Her son i'll Heaven. These watcry atoms dare
Not tell what God has not disclosed TO man.
They've scared in air, above earth, and bathcd
In heavens brightest rays; have lowered round
The storm gods brow; watched, amid The cloud,
The lghtning's widest sports-,he glare and gloom
Which trickics down mothers check or adds
charm TO beauty's grace, claims kindred with
This mighty brotherhood. cen though they meier
Before had met But see those bubbles dance
And play along their joyous course, irail
AS bright they float moment in sight,
Then burst their sparkling prison house for that
Which made them breaks them too; Just so with man
He floats along the stream Of time his mind
And spirit bring him into view, but soon
They burst :hcir sparkling shrnc and leave no trac
On earth, that once they were As wayc on wave,
So follow generations ; ono is
A sand mark on the bank tho tide which rnade
Ut returns, erasing every trace and thus ii i'll
Forever be, until that point be reached,
Which marks the limit TO the perfect man.
Oh Earth what hast thou not ! Thy countless form
Are full of thoughts which strive for utcrauce,
Thy mysteries would silence cen the God
or Chance, whom man has formed Of Naucht,
And changed not the material, bnt in
The name : We gaze around, above, beneath
Yet something always turns minds TO Heaven;
But cast a glance upon this wavelcss stream,
And ccn the drapcry Of the lower skies
Yon gorgeous clouds, reflected there,
Reminding us, that far beyond, there is
bright, happy land where all is love
And Joy and peace where bOundIcss mysteries
Elicit only boundess praise.
WAyNEsBoRo', VA, SEPT. 3, 1S49.
no NV NjnTtIEp