Page:Poems and essays (IA poemsessays00howerich).pdf/40
This page needs to be proofread.
34
Acadia.
Wove round the homes of some enchanting race,
The guardian nymphs of this delightful place.
The guardian nymphs of this delightful place.
Such is the scene, beneath Canaan's height,
Where Nature seems to shrink from human sight;
And shun the intruding step, and curious eye,
That seek to know where her deep mysteries lic.
There might you stand, beside that falling stream,
Nor ought of man or of his doings dream;
While high above you towers the rifted rock,
Crowned by old groves, unscathed by tempest's shock
As from the steep its falling waters spring
And at your feet their broken foam wreaths fling.
Where Nature seems to shrink from human sight;
And shun the intruding step, and curious eye,
That seek to know where her deep mysteries lic.
There might you stand, beside that falling stream,
Nor ought of man or of his doings dream;
While high above you towers the rifted rock,
Crowned by old groves, unscathed by tempest's shock
As from the steep its falling waters spring
And at your feet their broken foam wreaths fling.
'Tis evening, and the suns retiring ray
From rock and hill is fading fast away;
Yet, like a friend who parts but for a while,
Wears, as he bids farewell, his sweetest smile.
The gentle breeze that blows from off the shore
Scarce curls the blue wave as it dances o'er.
With loaded bill the sea bird seeks its nest
To feed its young, or taste the sweets of rest.
Acadia's hardy son, with ready hand,
His frail bark launches from her rocky strand,
Hoists his white sail before the gentle wind
And leaves his humble home, far, far behind.
Born on the wave, accustomed to its swell,
His manly bosom loves its motion well.
His reckless spirit toil nor danger fears,
While for the sea his dauntless course he steers;
Ocean and Ocean's storms he nightly braves,
For God has cast his bread upon the waves.
From rock and hill is fading fast away;
Yet, like a friend who parts but for a while,
Wears, as he bids farewell, his sweetest smile.
The gentle breeze that blows from off the shore
Scarce curls the blue wave as it dances o'er.
With loaded bill the sea bird seeks its nest
To feed its young, or taste the sweets of rest.
Acadia's hardy son, with ready hand,
His frail bark launches from her rocky strand,
Hoists his white sail before the gentle wind
And leaves his humble home, far, far behind.
Born on the wave, accustomed to its swell,
His manly bosom loves its motion well.
His reckless spirit toil nor danger fears,
While for the sea his dauntless course he steers;
Ocean and Ocean's storms he nightly braves,
For God has cast his bread upon the waves.