The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-09-26
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THE DOVE.
A COMPANION TO PoE's RAVEN.
By Rev, J.. H. Martin. n.D.

A COMPANION TO P0E's RAVEN.
BY Rev. ]. H. Martin, DID,.
Once upon q summer evening,
AS lay reposing, dreaming,
While the twinkling stars were beaming,
And their light was family cleaning
Through the window of my room,
Suddenly beside my pillow,
Like the murmur OF biIlow,
Or the sigh Of weeping willow,
Mid the shadow and the gloom.
There was heard gentle sound,
Floating on the air around,
As an echo from above;
And I, waking, saw dove
Perched upon the whitened head
or statue near my bed;
And it seemed with soft, low cooling
My lone heart to soothe with wooing,
Like an angel from the sky,
Or spirit lowering nigh.
While lay entranced and dreaming.
Startled by the echo seeming
To be whispered from above.
In the starlight family cleaning,
With its form OF beauty beam1ng,
beheld the snowy dove:
With thrill of wonder, gazing
On the visitor, amazing,
demanded who are your"
And the gentle bird OF whiteness,
With its snowy robe OF brightness,
Answered with COO:
II am sent" said he, from Alden,
By fair and lovely maiden,
With message unto thee;
I am come to soothe thy sorrow,
Bid thee from despair to borrow
Hope that thou her face shalt see;
For thy cherished one is living,
And her thoughts to thee is giving,
On bright and distant shore;
And come her carrier dove,
With message from thy love.
Who is thine for evermore.
By this joyful news excited,
Raptured, ravished and delighted,
I. the snowy bird addressing,
Asked, with earnest voice enquiring,
What my soul was most desiring,
That her name to me expressing,
He would set my heart at rest
Stlll the JumulJ IN my DreaSC,
And assure me that my maiden,
In the distant fields ofAiden,
Waited for me on the shore
Would be mine for evermore.
Then spoke with greater fervor,
I, the maiden's ardent lover:
"Does my own departed live?
ITO the bird ofwhiteness listening,
10 ri;
For the answer he should give)
''Tell me, o thou carrier dove,
OF my absent, cherished love,
Whom knew in days OF yore;
Has she passed the shining portal
OF the blessed land immortal,
Going through the golden door?
Does she move in light and splendor,
Do the graces all attend her,
On that fair and distant shore?
Words and tones and looks revealing
All my depths of inward feeling.
Moved, affected by my pleading,
And my anxious question needing
Thus the dove, my soul discerning,
Answer made, these words returning.
SIN the distant fields OF Alden,
On a bright, Elysian shore,
Dwells fair and lovely maiden,
And her name is Gilmore
mid the flowers about her blooming,
Mid the odors sweet pertaining
All the balmy air around,
She arrayed in robe of wilderness,
Walks an angel in her brightness,
With a wreath immortal crowned"
Then the bird his wings unfolding,
Left me, as lay beholding.
Filled with transport and delight:
With a soft, sonorous COO,
Nodding, bidding me adieu,
Through the open window few
Out into the gloomy night.
But the bright, enchanting vision
OF the distant fields Elysian,
And my cherished Gilmore,
AS fair and lovely maiden,
Dwelling in the land of Alden,
Is my light for evermore.
There shall I, my loved one greeting,
At our future, early meeting,
On that distant radiant shore,
With ecstatic 10y and gladness.
Free from parting, pain and sadness:
Clasp again my Gilmore.
Call her mine for evermore.