Classic Poem

To the Night-blooming Cereus

Now departs day's garish light,
Beauteous flower! lift thy head,
Rise upon the brow of night,
And thy transient lustre shed.

Night has dropped her dusky veil;
All vain thoughts be distant far,
While with silent joy we hail
Flora's radiant evening star.

See! to life her beauties start:
Hail! thou lovely, matchless flower;
Much thou sayest to the heart,
In thy fleeting, solemn hour.

Ere we have our homage paid,
Thou wilt bow thy head and die;
Thus our sweetest pleasures fade,
Thus our brightest blessings fly.

Sorrow's rugged stem, like thine,
Bears a flower thus purely bright;
Thus, when sunny hours decline,
Friendship sheds her cheering light:

And Religion, heavenly flower,
Joy of never-fading worth,
Like thee, in the darkest hour
Puts her peerless glories forth.

Then thy beauties are surpassed,
Splendid flower, that bloom'st to die;
Friendship and religion last,
When the morning dawns on high.

Emblem just of earthly bliss,
Wondrous stranger, fare thee well!
What a brilliant dream it is,
To the mournful heart you tell.English