Columbia gazette., 1854-04-15
PO OETR Y
MY MOTHERS GRAVE.

Oh! who hath stood beside the spot, tha
hottest spot of earth,
Where sleeps the cold, unconscious dus
of her who gave him birth,
Nor felt the memory Of her love from
beings earliest years,
Come DER him with subduing power
and melt Els soul to tears.
Ny mother! as I bend beside thy lowly
place Of rest,
Beneath the dropping willow-boush.
whose foliage shades thy breast,
What rushing thoughts of other time.
across my spirits sweep;
And thrill my tosom's inmost chords
with anguish keen and deep.
I think Of clildhood's halcyon days-its
sunny hours of glee;
When it was happiness to play arount
mothers knee;
When tiny consolng voice could all my
transient g,iefs beguile;
And it was bliss supreme to meet thy
kind, approving sAilc.
I think Of youths enchanted spring, it.
scenes of feverish joy
When passion swayed, with ruthless pow.
er, thine ardent, wayward boy;
And Thy still watchful tenderness, tn,
still untiling care,
With precious counsel warned nv step.
from folly's latent snare.
[ think of manhood's summcr-prime, it<
aspirations high
Its cherished hopes, its glorious dreams
its fond idolatry;
And, sad reverse Its sky o'ercast, it.
prospects veiled in shade
Its warm and generous feeling chilled
insulted, crushed, betrayed!
And then I think-oh! how that thought
can soothe nv pensive mind
IF all the world beside were cold, my
motheri thou vert kind;
And thy undying love. through time and
change still fondly true,
No selfish feelings e'er alloyed, no dimi-
mutton knew.
Those lips are silent now, with deaths
mytcrious seal imprest-
Those fond emotions all are stilled in
deep, undermining rest
No wintry storm can break the slumber
of thy tomb;
Nor summers glorions sunshine pierce
thy graves unlighted gloom;
And I must breathe the unheeded sigh
that cannot reach thine ear;
And DER thy chilly vault distil the un-
availing tear;
Then turn, perchance, and DER the
worlds wide surface seek in vain.
A mothers love! that priceless gem,
ne'cr shall find again.
Yet, when think what heavenly peace
what hopes serene and high,
Around thy passing spirit beamed. ant
lit thy closing eye
What more than mortal beauty gracet
thy pale, unbreathing clay;
And what an air of bles: repose on it,
calm features lay
Oh, no | would not call thee back t.
earth's uneenial soil
Again to bear life's darksome doom, it.
anguish, aad it's toll.
Forgive, blcst shade! my selfish love-
would not drag thee down
Frosa glory's clime-nor from thy brow
tear the angelic crown.
For high above the starlit dome is thy
sublime abode,
Amid the adorning hosts tha: bend be.
fore the throne of God!
And in that undecaying house man
sion bright is thine,
Procured by thy Redeemer's blood, pre-.
pared by hands divine
Mother, farewell. the evening shade.
are gathering round my head,
And I must leave thee now to rest witt
all the quiet dead.
l leave thee but moment-brief shal
our parting he;
Thy sorrowing son, perchance, may seor
return to dwell with thee
Oh! filthy saihted spirit bends from it
bright seat above,
To watch o'er those on earth who onct
claimed thy maternal love,
Wilt thou not hover round my path, ane
bless thy suppliant child,
And puide ma while T vet NAV roam the
worlds uniriendly wild'
I know thou wilt; and when I cast these
mortal garments by,
TO scothe my parting soul, be thou, my
guardian angel, nigh!
Oh! then may earth's endearing ties, 81
rudely severed here,
Unite, where eyes are never dimmet
With Natures parting tearl