The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-11-07
SHdDO W LAND.
BY LIDB MERRIwETHER.

" "iMddOlCS ,ee are, and ShddOus We purSHe' -
Der the distant mOuntaina drooping
Pearl and gray the curtains tbll'
Misty sbapes come through them trOOpil
To the sounding autumn call;
flushed and still, the forest listen
To the footballs Of the band,
And their garments gloam and glistcn
With hues of Shadow Land.
Soft their fairy feet are creeping
O'0r the maple. beech and pine
Bright-hued elfn shapes lie sleeping
In the sumac, oak and vine;
Arch on arch, like raihbows NEE ing
Tower the forest giants grand,
Warm and glowing, fair and aeoting
AS the dreams of Shadow Land.
Rainbow wings are softly fitting
Through the deep cntan0led wood,
GhOs'ly shadows Il silent sitting
In its twilight solitude;
Fairy echoes sweet are ringing
From the rivers cleaning strand
As the elves are softly singing
Syrcn songI of Shadow Land.
Rushing wings above me hover,
Whisper ring echoes to me call,
Elfn hands my eyelids cover.
Fairy foOtstsns round me fall;
GhOstly shapes are dimly falling
And their spirits voices calling
10 their home in Shadow Land.
Softly sweep the nut brown tresscs,
Sweet and balmy floats the breath,
Warm and glowing press the kisses
Of the autumn's crimson mouth;
CLEANING round mc-tioating o'or me
Troop the dreamy. wOoing band
Earth and heaven fade before me,
And l dwell in Shadow Land.
Through tho meadows, blossom laden
In the rosy bIushing dawn
Trips u blue eyed laughing maiden
Singing to the glad May morn;
Fairy piniOns DER her rising,
Fairy sponsors round her stand.
With the morning deWS baptiZing-
DAUGHTER Of the Shadow Land
Der her white cleaning bosom
Course the glowing veins of youth,
A the sweets Of bud and blossom
Dwell within her rosy mouth,
Dream eyed passions dusky tresSe5,
Lie bencnth her snowy hand,
And he watts his burning kisses
From the realm Of Shadow Land.
And beside him, proud ambition,
Regal head and eye of fire,
With the dreams of his creation
OOlng Onward-upward-hl
Till the 'brave dead years" shall reckon
On their record, none so grand;
Still their maddenng fingers bcckOn
Onward, into Shadow Land.
But behind th.m slowly creeping
Steal the wan and ghOstly gears,
All their beams in shadows stepping,
All blossoms drowned in tears;
And the cleaning wings that hoycred
Bleaching lie on the burng sand,
And the darkling stream is covered
With the wrecks of shadow Land.
Dust and darkness dimly cover.
Buried frigndship's 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 cod in Shadow Land.
Little foot no longer pattcr
Der the l0wly cottage floor,
Rosy lips no longer chattor,
Liquid brown eyes smilo no more.
Memory swinging gate disCOseS
Angels of the household band,
Sleeping under the snow white roses
Dwellers pale in the Shadow Land.
And as memories circle DER me-,
and thclr dHkling shadows teen,
OFT the queries press me sOruly,
Do wake? or do dream?
What is shadow? what is human?
Thus the vexing questions stand
Which, the worn and wearicd woman?
Shall life he ours, where never
Shall the soul unanswered call
Where the redt livcth ever,
And the sha lows from us fall?
Shall the spirit soaring higher,
Circled by shining band,
Bathed in Gods own sun bright fire
Dwell no more in Shadow Land?