Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-29
PoHT,S g0RNER,
From the Louisville Journal.

tS a lalref Nfe1en thhh tn1s was never
laid on the couch Of dying year:
Tread softly and speak low
- : For the Old year is s-dying.s
sdlL1--1l lf- TeaRysoB-
Deeember's clouds tonight have piled On high
A couch whereon Demi-god might die
In regal gloom--and sunless majesty;
And he who gazes with Prophets ken,
May there behold what passes binder men
A Titan-lying all his stately length
Supine-and stricken-in his broken strength; /;
His seeptre falling from his nerveless hand
Like an enchanter's enervated wand,
His long white locks escaping from band
That seems poor and senseless mockery now,
fTbe ar.,yrn ats loosely on a dying brow).-
And meath his sandalled feet rolling sphere,
Fast reeling into space
Thus dies the Year,
Saw was Il but the northwind's broken moan
Sweeping from leafess trees funeral tone
That seemed-but now-to shape in Rhunic
Rhyme
The solemn words of destiny and time?
Or did prophetic lips indeed unelose
To murmur Of earth's past and future woes,
To breathe low thunderous murTnurs of re-
morse
O'er ruined energies-and wasted force,
Marked by whirlwind's desolating eurse7
The last-I ,ceH Gelieue--and with an ear
Attuned TO oaceents-melancholy-
As the slow driving OF autumnal rain
What time the moaning winds in sobs con-
And forest leaves drift earthward brown and
sere,
listen-spell-bound--to the dying year
"I was q king',-he said" elate and strong;
My children were the nations that belong
To time-by right Of heritage and birth;
One best loved on all this rolling earth
Escaping fast from meath my shrinking
sole)-
But in my eleme mt Of stern control
There lacked that golden cord that binds men
soul to soul!-
To those twin brothers-yOungest-best be-
loved,
OF all my wing o'ershadowed most approved,
My beautiful, my bravei-my dark and fair
0ne-with Aurora's glory in his hair
Yhe other with the noontide on his brow
Both moulded to the same-by blood and vow
Filling one seat of Empire-proudly bright
(Like those twin boys that Leda gave to JOve,
That shine in an eternity of Love,
High mid the host of heaven--enshrined in
Lightly
Brothers o'er whom had fallen one single night
Of diseord-that perchance the dawning day
Had chased, with other phantoms, far away!
These to compel to unison l strove-
How vainly.-these despairing hands may
show
Nevertheless in death and impotence of woe!-
For the day dies-Pasf is my empty reign,
And have seen renewed the tragedy of Cain.
sfYou stand beside me-even as speak,
Heir of the ages-young and stately year!
Your face is beautiful as that the Greek
Gave to his Sun god--and your eye is clear
As the star Hesperus, in virtues light serene
l see you poised upon your argent spear
Waiting great issues-with face sublime
Crownless as yet--ohl son of fate and time,
Yet Saturns self could ask no filter peer
Even in the golden fullness of his primel
Then heed my dying accents:
Hear-oh! hear
Take for your bride the meek and dove-eyed
maid,
One of the sisters who await your nod
The olive-erowned--by seraph hands arayed
In robes of snOw-the wFonged-the oft be-
trayed
Christ's virgin d-Peace-beloved of
%Hold well your troth-let not the flashing
eyes
OF her fierce sister sway your destinies;
Even though her altar smoke with sacrifice.
She speaks in tones of music shrill and loud
Her smile is shimmering as the thunder
cloud
Her shining armor hides the mouldy shroud.
Me, with her magic wand she smote at first
And, held entranced BY the magnetic burst
OF her bold beauty-with the pealing drum
The spell-the cannon | beheld her come
Blood was upon her garments-hot the blast
Breathed from her quivering nOstrils as she
passed.
And nations looked upon her face aghast.
Yet leaving all followed on her path
That unclaimed fury of despair and wrath
Hold in her right hand the hghtningis fiery
seathel
Be wise-be frm-put from thee fast and far
This cruel Temptress-
Crush and Danish war!