The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-09
WASHINGTON. ID. C..
For the National Era.
STR U G G Z z.
BY LYDIA A. CALDWELL.

Not all the stars Of pale, discrowned November
Had dropped down, white, behind the western
wave
Not yet bad come the sadder browed December,
Among our pines and mountain cliffs to rave,
When Grief too black TO mention or remember,
Dug deep and vide, within our hearts, her grave.
Oh dark and drear came down wild January;
And drear ard dark the Northern winds came down.
Till by the hand CT Fastening February,
Chill, deep and white, the winter fields were sown
And fierce and swift with fect that would not larry
Darkness and Ruin walked the earth alone
Then stood up, and wrestlel with my SORROW;
Up face 70 face with each, stood Grief and
With those wild words despair alone can borrow,
called on Death, that he should hear my cry;
And through unknown futuritys tomorrow,
Ny soul went questioning for Deaths reply
cried "Oh, Death wherewith wilt thou repay me -
DARK Death" 1 said, what hast thou but the
dead7
For all the wealth gave thee, but convoy me
To my beloved-and make with his my bed
Beside my dead and only love to lay mo,
Is all 1 ask of thee oh, Death . 1 said.
Thus, kneeliug very humble, low, and tender,
Beneath tho stars, listened for the word;
But no white star nor any moons chill splendor,
Was by the sound of the replying stirred.
From the far skies there camo no swift desconder,
Through all Deaths silent realms no voice was
heard.
Then, in the anguish of my bitter weeping,
turned away and fell upon my face
Eut through my agony, heard the sweeping
vii Id I'd buria Yga
And straight stood up fronting thus the sleeping,
And cried in bitterness through all the space
Oh, Love. were Deaths arms warmer for thy
COUGHING
That they should win thee thus away from mine,
And from my hoart loves tcnderest avouching2
Beloved, gavcst thou then word aor sign,
When down beneath Death feet my life went crouch
ing,
To plead in Interest despair, for thine?
"0h, Love could Death, as have loved thee, love
thee?
Oh could his lip caress thee as mino hath
Would then no songs that / have sung thee, move
thee,
That only Deaths sad psalm could sooth thy
breath
Nay, dearest love, would not so reprovo thee;
only weep thou Iovcdst me less than Death :"
Beneath the MOON beneath the stars white shining,
No gels low response tbs mute air moved;
No white and beckoning hand, from Heaven declin-
ing,
The desolatiOn ofmy cry disproycd
Unaeeding slept on his low couch reclining,
Ny pale and beautiful and best-beloved.
With sudden darkness were the heavens o'ertaken;
The clouds rolled in and shut them from my sight
Then was my spirit like fg-tree shaken
BY mighty winds with saiden fear and blight.
The cry, " Beloved, oh, why am forsaken"
Arose and smote ;hs black and brooding night.
Ny soul reeled back beneath the pain and passion
OF that wild cry fell down, like one dead,
Yet the living in their dreaminss fashion
The thought which, waking, they dared not have
said,
So, slow and low said, as in a vision,
" TIE God Theedea not stands oUerAsqa!"
lay there, waiting fo- the skies to sunder,
To hear what any voice in Heaven would say:
waited, spsechess for Gods Judgment thunder
To roll deep over it's dire dismay
held my peace and waited, in mute wonder
To feel Gods lightnings strike me where lay.
No thunders came, the waiting heavens to sever,
But from on high Gods glory shone on me;
Add with such Tenderness spako over,
Save he wto hung forssken - on the tree,
voice sad-echoing through my soul forever
AM, my chi 4, and this suaiceth thee"
lfcG,ucriLe, 1854.