Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-03-25
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PO e Il r Y.


PO E Il r. Y.
For the SPECTATOR.
DEATH.
Sadness comes with changing nature, stealth,
on us AXE thief.
Gladness deadens with tho roses, sears and red
dens with the leaf, A. .,r ~
Man proposes. God disposes.' Gods the will
and mans the grief.
Fading scenes of sunni mer grieve u.s. when hel
smiles and beauty pale,
When the southbound chorists leave us empty
nests in hill and VALE
And the pail Of winter passes, dragging on Its
hoary trail.
have seen a mortal winter bursting on q sum-
mer's bloom, G
Pallid cheeks and dropping ardor, whispering
of an early doom,
Spray. and twig, and leaf and blossom drop
ping in an open tomb.
All. tits sad. the slapsing splendor fading in q
maiden's eyes,
Fading, as the stars that render, feeble light in
morning Skies
While we watch with fervent tender, sadness,
where their glory cies.
How we chafe our narrow powers. Oh for this,
the gift to save!
If our Drawing were but saving, endless hor-
rors would we brave,
Cast veil before the hours. place seal upon
the grave.
Death come forth thou skulking rival! Dare
assume a mortal mould,
We will wrest thy booty from thee, tho thy
strength be hundred-fold,
Though we feel cur pulses wither, though our
own fond hearts grow cold!
have watched the cheek of beauty. bleaching,
blanching under doom.
Here cast the gauntlet to thee! Come, base
hearted migrate, come!
will wrest thy treasure from thee at the Intel
ofthe tomb!
One know, youthful figure, chosen throne
of queenly grace,
With the blush of youthful vigor, battling,
fain+ing in her face,
Like the cirrus clouds at even, fading, fainting
into space.
Loving eyes shall look upon her, loving lips
repeat her name,
Loving words, like garlands spun her, bind her
to atender claim.
TIL the hoping heart has won her, till the
spark is famed to fame
1 can see thee. happy lover, glowing with a
victor's pride.
Bouyant as the clouds above her, or the ring.
lets at her side,
Pride that trusts too well to prove her. quick
to praise and slow to chide.
Life, tropic plant twice blooming, shall re-
turn beneath thy smiles,
Heart, and face and form resuming happy tests
of arts and wiles,
Hopes like missing vessels coming, laden back
from diamond isles!
distant cline,
Ringing days and months shall pass thee, call
ing echoes chime on chime.
Every thought, and wish. and feeling, blend
ing in perfect rhyme.
If fear or doubt shall whisper, how her eyes
are strange beneath,
How her cheek is often paler, how a weakness
checks her breath,
Thou shalt laugh. and say-"I love her, love
like mine shall silence DEATH"
Sitting by a widowed river. time shall pass
thee like dream,
Moons and stars shall dance before thee, mir
rored in its stealthy stream,
Then joy shall settle DER thee, placid as a
summers dream.
Dream?-A briny wave shall wake thee. as its
columns near thee reel,
While CHASTITY barge shall start thee, plowing
up with ebon keel
And an Icy hand shall part thee part thee as
with bars Of steel.
She shall turn and view thee, smiling as she
never smiled before,
While her eyes reflect the splendor dawning
from a distant Shore
But her smiles will make thee tender, and her
glance will grleve thee sore.
Yet one sadder glance shall meet thee, striking
chords of Ofearlier bliss,
Thoughts of other worlds shall greet thee cast
ing chaos into this,
Till the fated bark shall fleet thee spite thy
last despairing kiss.
Fleet thee till her spirit mantle flaunts against
the distant sky,
Fleet thee, till the tide Is tranquil, and the
chasing ripples die,
Then thy head shall bow despite thee, meath
the burden of thy sigh.
Thus the morn and night shall find thee, star
ing In the quiet tide,
With a world of thought behind thee, and
vacuum at thy side;
Till the chils of age shall bind thee to the rip
Piles as they glide.
TIL long wished bark shall thrill thee grating
on thy mortal strand,
And a chilly touch hall still thee, pointing to
better land;
Then thy eyes shall drop their shackles, and
thy palsied form shall stand.
B. N. R.