Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-22
NO. Is.
THE CLOSING SCENE.


BY T. b. READ.
tThc following is pronounced by the Wes'asiHsier
ReDieo to be unquestionab'y the fines. American
poem ever written.l
Within the sober realms Of leaGess tree.
The russell year inhaled the dreamy air:
Like some tanned reaper in his hour of ease.
When all the fields are lying brown and bare.
Tho gray barns looking from their hazy hills.
Ger the dun waters widening in the wales,
Sent down the air a greeting t. the mills
On the dull thunder Of alternate Calls.
All sights were mellowed. and all sounds subducd.
The hills seemed further and the stream sang
low.
As in dream the distant woolnian hewel
lis winter log, with many muiilcd blow.
The embattled forests. ere while armed with gold.
" Their banners bright with every martial hue.
Withdrawn afar in Times rcmotcst blue.
On sombre wings the vulturc tried his flight,
The dove scarce heard his signing mates com
plant:
And, like star slow drowning in the Eght.
The village church vano seemed too pale and
faint.
The sentinel cock upon the hillside crew
Crew thriee-and ali was stiier than before;
Silent until some replying warier blew
Ills alien horn, and then was heard no more.
Where erst the jay within the Gins tall crest.
Made sarrulous trouble round her unaedFcd
And where the oriole hung her svqying nest.
BY every hight wind like centre swung;
Where sang the noisy martins ofthe caves.
The busy swallows circing ever near
FOrbcding, as the rustic mind believes.
An early. harvest and . plentcOuS year;
Where every bird that walked the vernal feast
Shook the sweet slumder from it, wings at
morn;
To warm the reaper Of the rosy lust:
All now was sunless, empty and foTlorn.
Alone, from ont the stubblc, piped tho quail:
And eroaked the crow through all the drcaTy
Alone. the pleasant. drumming in the vale.
Made echo IN the distant cottage loom.
There was no bud no bloom upon the bowers:
The spiders moved their thin shrouds by night,
The thistle down. the only ghost of flowers.
Sailed slowly by-pasSed noiScleSsly out of sight.
Amid all this-in this most dreary air,
And where the woodhnc shred upon the porch
Its crimson leaves, as if the year stood there
Firing the tloor witilits inverted torch.
Amid ali this-the centre of the scene.
The while haired matron, with monotouous
Piled the swirl wheel, and with her joylcss mcin.
Sat like fate, and watched the flying thread.
Sne hau known sOrrOW-hC had walked with her.
Oft supped. and broke with her the ashcn crust;
And in the dead leaves still she heard the stir
OF his thick mantle trailing in the dust.
While yet her check was bright with summer
bloom,
Her country summoned and she gave hcrall:
And twice war bowed to her his sable plume
Re gave the sword 10 rust upon the wall.
Re-gave the sword. but not the hand that drew
And struck for liberty the dying blow:
Nor him who, TO his sire aud country true
Fell mid the ranks Of the invading foe.
Long, but not loud. the dropping wheel went on,
Like the low murmur Of hive nj noon:
Long, but not loud, the memory of the gone
Breathed through her lips a sad aud trcmulous
tone.
At last the thread was .nappcd-hcr head was
bowed,
Life dropped the distaT through her hands
serene,
And loving ncighbors smoothcd her careful
ShrOud.
While death and winter closed the autumn