The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-22
evening State Soarnal.
The Sea Coral's Dream.

The Sea Coral's Dream.
nr cL1vzn c. GRAY.
Deep In Neptunes neither empire,
sceptered sat the coral grandslre,
While the myriads of his children danced with
every ocean-sprite
Weary feet beat hrmer.
To the shells mimic murmur,
Revealing with the imps OF Eblis, dreaming never
Of the light.
Thus in gloom they gamboled ever
Morning. flushed their psllor never,
Pearls imperial would glinmer, but no starry
bloom Of Night;
Smile grit sky would not caress them,
Nor would ranbow.banner bless them,
For they reared alter to the Oriental God of Light
Then the reyel was upbroken,
BY the monarch's voice outspoken,
And the white.clad myrIads surcea5ed, dallyiug |
with the Maids BRIGHT
"Work forever lis our duty
0vertop the wave with beauty:
We must build upon the Darkness, and so reach |
he realm of Light"
"upwsrd build through sea- green portals,
Lost Atantis-home for mortals-
Occidental ehnisland, such as doomed on Plato's
sight;
An august domain for races-
Tenants on Lies hid GASES
Let the base be laid in silence let the summit rest
in light.
ssWork is worship never tire
Pile your magic fabric higher !"
voiceless rite
With the compass and the bevel---
Tiny trowel, square and level,
They upbud their towering Temple, lcnging.for the
land of Light.
Long they dreamed Of misty mountain,
Played In Undine's fairy fountain,
Hardened to the wild wood MARBLE, charming sylvan
Dymphs from flight
Saw the forest shadows culver,
On the listess wanton river,
Creeping to the bland embraces of ocean broad
and bright
Watch the nautilus careerirg,
Mid unfottered tempests veering,
Saw the surf to breakers bowling doffing countless
turbans white;
Biilows languid chasing pillows,
COUGHING on Lethean pillows
On their care-worn mothers bosom, with spectre
stars of Night!
Dreamed of Summers roses sleeping,
Dreamed of auburn Autumn weeping,
Springs young zephyrs laughing, waiting odors to
the blossoms bright;
Fanced phantoms most appalling,
Winters tears to snow flakes falling
While the crystal icebergs glitter, WALKING on sea
of Light J"
Tempted were they without mercy,
By epchanters worse than Crce
Sirens lured with maddening music, colby folding
them with fright,
Iulled and listening as they iinger
Touch of coralangel's finger
Warns and woos them, while they whispers,
Coward, upward to the Light!
Evsrmore they heed this motto,
Dying in their gorgeous grotto,
Aud entombed in stately order, robed in royal
shrouds of white
Sea-drge sung DER bones left bleaching,
These martyrs still keep preaching,
''From the charnel leap the Living; from the
Darkness dawns the Light
Laid in catacombs of glory
They embalm Earths primal story,
Older than the bliss of Eden, budding ere the demons
blight:
Carving hieroglpyhic pages,
They adorn the alsles of ages,
Some molding for Columbus continental visions
bright.
Cycles elided past the SpoiIer,
Persisted many patient toiler but the ranks
were closed and crowded with recruits in
mail bedight
Hopeful that some coral brother,
In some distant age other,
Would, above the foam crest peering sit enthrcned
amid the Light
Faithful cotal-sons and daughtersl
You have reached the radiant waters,
Aud have heard the petrel-prophet, the storm
hing rules in might
Hymns of halcyons, without number,
Rock the topsurge into sumber
Fascination floats around you, in the cleaning land
of Light.
They have trumphed DER all dagger
Sun light clasps each sea-born stranger
Glad Aurora kisses this unsued Host with fond
Twilight with her glamour grests them
Farof Alsyone meets them
coral-Dreamersl Island-Bullders welcome the
Land of Light
And their dream is yet unbroken--
Yet they hear words spirit spoken
Strive now for the Empyresn Climb to its elnl-
gent hight
Beaconed by the heavenly Pharcs,
Mount where dauntless seraphs dare u.s.
Wonder-workers ! stand united like pbalanx
armed for fight n
They will never faint nor fater
Till they a star-lit altar,
And lofty, dazzling Temple, in the chosen eherub'a
sight;
With such aim still are building,
All their toll with glory gliding,
Dreaming neyermore OF Darkue5s--ever of celestial
Light.
Will they reach that lustrous heaven,
With their fame in hal os craven
Surely down Times shortless vista, echoes Faith
with fervid plight;
They have bravely borne the burden,
And will win golden guerdon.
When the coras Dream Is ended-ended In the Holy
Light.
OTTAWA, Illinois.