The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-01
POETRY.
The Rose and the Jasmine.
BY EDMUND @. srRpMAN,

Now dies the ripping murmur of the strings
That followed long, half -striving to retake,
The burden Of the mnstrel's ended song.
Two Of the souI,s near portals still nnciosed-
Sight and the sense of odor. At our feet,
Beneath the open jealousies, is spread
A copse of leaf and bloom, a tangled wild
OF foliage and purple Towering vines,
With here dagger plant to pierce them through,
Its golden-gourded cresset Nights high noon
Is luminous; that rich, unrivalled hour
When the concentrate spirit of the South
Grows visible-so rare. and yet so filed
With remulous pulsaton that it seems
TO fold us in its effiuence, compact
Or light and fragrance and ethereal dew.
Two vases carved from some dark, precious wood,
Inc rea-grained heart of olden trees that cling
10 yonder mountain-in the moonlight cast
Their scrolls deep shadows on the CLASSY floor.
A proud exotic Rose, brought from the North,
Is set within the one; the other bears
A double Jasmine for its counter-charm-
Than which the frangipanis stellar spray,
Night blooming cereus, or orange flower,
Yields less of ecs.acy and strange perfume,
Here on their thrones, in equal high estate,
The rivals bloom; and both have drunk the dew,
Tending their beauty in the tropic night
Until their sovereign odors meet and blend
AS voices blend that whisper melody,
Now each distinct, now mingled both in one:
JASMINE.
l. like star, against the woven gloom
OF tresses on Dolores brow shall rest.
And one happy, happy night shall bloom
Twined in the borders of her silken vest.
JASMINE.
Throughout our isle the guardian winds deprive
VI all their sweets a hundred common flowers,
To iced my heart with frag ANGEL Lone they live,
And drop their petals tar from tresed bowers.
ROSE.
Within the garden plot whence was borne
No rified sisterhood became less fne;
My wealth made not the violet torlorn,
AND near me climbed the fearless egantine,
JASMINE.
Who feels my breath recalls the orange court
The terraced walks that jut upon the sea,
The water in the moonlit bay amoIt
The midnight given to longing and to me.
Who scents my blossoms dreams of bordered mead
Deep down the hollow Of some vale far north,
Where Cuthbert with the fair-haired Rda pleads,
And overhead the stars of June come forth.
JASMINE.
Me with full hands enamored Manuel
Gathers for dark browed Inez at his side
And both to love are quickened by my spell,
And chide the day that doth their Joys divide.
Nav, but all chimes, all tender sunlit lands
From whose high places spring the palm or pine,
Desire my gifts to grace the welded bands,
And every home tor me has placed shrine.
JASMINE.
Fold up thy heart, proud virgin ay, and blush
With all the crimson tremors thou canst vaunt
MY yearDing waves of passion onward rush,
And long the lovers wistful memory haunt.
ROSE.
Pale temptress. the nights revel be thine own,
Till love shall pail and rapture have its fill!
The morn's fresh light still finds me on throne
Where care is not, nor blisstul pains that kill.
JASMINE.
Sweet, sweet my breath. oh, sweet beyond compare!
ROSE.
Rare, rare the splendors of my regal crown!
BOTH.
Choose which thou wilt, bold lover, yet beware
Lest to a luckless choice thou bendest down!
In the Atldutic MONTHLY for Aprif.