The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-11-15
SHAD0WLAND.


'' S7,ado,os zee are, and s1,odo,os ,0s pursue.
O'sr the distant mountains droOping
Pearl and gray the curtains faIt
Misty shapes come through them tr0Opln
To the sounding autumn cali;
flushed and still, the forest listen
To the FOOTBALLS of the band,
And their g4Tme nts CLEAN and glisten
With hues of Shadow Land.
Soft their fairy feet are creeping
o. 'er the maple. beech and Pine.
BriEht-hued elfin shapes lie sleeping
In the sumaC. oak and vine;
Arch on arch. like raia bows meeting
Tower the forest giants grand
Warm and glowing, fair and feeting
As the dreams of Shadow Land.
Rainbow wings are softly fitting
Through the deep entanRled wood,
Ghos'ly shadows silent sitting
In its twilight solitude;
Fairy echoes weet are ringing
From the rivers cleaning strand
As the elves are softly singing
SyTen songs Of Shadow Land.
Rushing wings above me hover,
Whispering echoes to me call,
Elm hands my eyelids cover.
Fairy fOOtstsDs round me fall;
Through the wood with beckoning hand
And their spirits voices calling
TO.their home in ShadoW Land.
Softly sweep the nut-bTown tresses,
Sweet and balmy floats the breath,
Warm and glowing press the kisses
OF the autumn's crimson mouth;
Cleaning round me-hOating Ger mo
Troop the dreamy, wOOing band
Earth and heaven fade before me,
And dwell in Shadow Land.
Through the meadows, blossom laden
In the rosy blushing dawn
Trips blue eyed laughing maiden
Singing to the glad May morn;
Fairy pIniOnS O. 'eF her rising,
Fairy sponsors round her stand,
With the forming dews baptizing-
q Daushter OF the shadow Land.
Der her white cleaning bosom
Course the glowing veins of youth,
All the sweets of bud and blossom
Dwell within her rosy mouth,
Dream-eyed passions dusky tresse7s
Lie beneath her snowy hand,
And he watts his burning kisses
From the realms of Shadow Land.
And be,id him. proud ambition,
Regal head and eye Oftire,
With the dreams of his creation
WOoin9 OnWaTd-upward-hi
Till the - brave dead years " shall reckon
On their record, none so grand;
StiH their maddening fingers beckOn
Onward, into Shadow Land.
But behind them slowly creeping
steal the wan and ghOstly benTS,
- All their beams in shadows stepping,
All blossoms drowned in tears;
And the cleaning wings that hovered
Bleaching lie on the burng sand,
And the dArkling stream is cOyerCd
With the wrecks of Shadow Land.
Dust and darkness dimIy cover.
Buried friendships broken vow,
Dusky piniOn+ hover over
Trusts betrayed and lying low;
Records of the old, old story -
Scgttered with relentless hand,
Dreams of love. and pride, and glory,
Sleeping cold in Shadow Land.
Little foot no longer pattcr
Ger the lOwly cottage ffnOr,
Rosy lips no longer chattOr,
Liquid brown eyes smile no more.
Memory swinging gate diSclOses
Angels of the household band,
Sleeping under the snow white roses
Dwellers pale in the Shadow Land.
And rs memories circle DER me,
and their darkling shadows TEEN,
Oft the queries press me sOrgly,
Do | wake? or do | dream?
What is shadow? what is human2
Thus the vexing questions stand,
Which, the worn and WeHTied woman?
Shall life be ours, where never
shall the soul unanswered call!
Where the real liveth ever,
And the shadows from US fall?
Shall the spirit soaring higher,
Circed by shining band,
Bathed in Gods own sun bright fire
Dwell no more in Shadow Land?