Lays Of Ancient Virginia, And Other Poems Part 26

Around my old Virginia home, My heart forever clings; Whene'er I hear its name p.r.o.nounced, I think a thousand things.

I think how once a little band, Came to these forest lands; And struggling long, built this fair home, And left it to our hands.

I think how our forefathers fought, To keep it free from chains, How they rejoic'd at vict'ry won, With loud, triumphal strains.

My cherish'd old Virginia home, Tears, tears come to my eyes, When thinking on thee, loveliest land, Beneath the boundless skies!

TAKE THOSE PLEDGES BACK.

Take back those pledges, dearest maid, Which once I warmly gave, For then I dreamed I would be free, And nevermore thy slave.

Yes! take them back once more, for love Hath made me only thine; And I should give these gems away, Whose heart's no longer mine.

'Tis said the heart can often love, But that can never be; Though I have bow'd at other shrines, I never loved but thee.

I feel that thou art dearer far Than aught this world can give, And come what may, come grief or joy, For only thee I live.

Yes! take those pledges back, dear maid, And let them fondly speak, The deathless flame that will not fail, In spring, or winter bleak: For they have told an honest tale, That I shall change no more, Till I shall clasp thy form again On Heaven's eternal sh.o.r.e.

SONG.--UNDYING AFFECTION.

I loved thee in my happy youth, When I was free from guile, And I have kept that early truth, And wear as fond a smile: I've look'd to thee, through every storm That lower'd upon my way, Thou say'st my fair and fairy form Hath made thy rainbow's ray.

I loved thee in that early time, Life's best and brightest years; I gave thee in thy manhood's prime, My changing smiles and tears: And now when evening shades come o'er The length'ning path of life, And we must think of love no more, I am thy faithful wife.

FREEDOM'S HOME.

O freedom's home! thy banner streams, A meteor on the gale; And I behold the haughty flags Of Europe fade and pale.

And, crowding on the surging sea, They cleave the billows bright; They come to rest beneath its folds, Attracted by its light.

O freedom's home! forevermore We'll join our hearts and hands, To make thee bright with peaceful wealth, The gem of richest strands: But, if a tyrant e'er should threat, This Eden of the free, Dear home of freedom, we will bleed, And yield our life for thee.

NATIVE MOUNTAINS.

Native Mountains! on your summits, Stream the gleaming floods of day, While a thousand silver cascades, Leap within the early ray; There amid your flowery valleys, Stands the cot of her I love; Clamb'ring o'er your rocky summits, I behold it from above.

Native Mountains! how my bosom Swells with happiness and pride, When I gaze upon ye soaring O'er your vales so green and wide.

All my wishes, all my pleasures, Still are closely, sweetly bound, To ye, lofty native Mountains, With your valleys blooming round.

THE TRAIN IS COMING.

The train is coming, coming, It whistles, don't you hear?

I saw the smoking engine, And soon they will be here.

The train is coming, coming, It is already here, I think that handsome Willie, I'm sure, he'll soon appear.

I've waited long to see him, And thought the train was slow; But now I see it stopping, And Willie's come, I know.

I got, on Sunday morning, The sweetest billet-doux, It had a white envelope, And his initials, too.

I read it, then I started, To hear the sermon through, But I could not hear the sermon, For all that I could do.

For it said that he was coming, Without mistake to-day, That he was growing weary Of things and folks away.

But list! the bell is ringing, And here is Willie's card; I'll meet him in the parlor, For I am quite prepar'd, To answer any questions That Willie now may ask, And then to serve and love him, Will be my daily task.

LINES.

Far hath lovely f.a.n.n.y flown, O'er the mountains, o'er the sea; All our peace with her hath gone, We are wed to misery.

As the rainbow fades away, As the short-lived spring departs, Shone she brightly o'er our way, Fled from our repining hearts.

Yet the rainbow will return, And the Spring will come once more; But the fair whose flight we mourn, Walks on Death's Elysian sh.o.r.e.

LOVE SONG.

My heart is newly gus.h.i.+ng, With love for thee, with love for thee, With thoughts as wild and wasteful, As yonder sea, as yonder sea.

Oh yes! my soul is wretched With longing pain, with longing pain, It gives a ceaseless moaning, Like yonder main, like yonder main.

Thy strange and matchless beauty, Is like the sea, is like the sea; Thy face in love or anger, Is sweet to me, is sweet to me.

Thy maiden soul is precious As yonder deep, as yonder deep, Within its gla.s.sy clearness, Bright jewels sleep, bright jewels sleep.

Thy sinless mind resembles Yon deep, blue sea, yon deep, blue sea; The glorious things of heaven Are seen in thee, are seen in thee.

Oh main! as some poor sailor Is lost in thee, is lost in thee, My soul is lost in sighing, No hope for me, no hope for me.