Short Poems

AMARANTH .

Fling, fling the wreath of Bacchus down!
For they who wear its vine-leaves here,
Forego the glorious amaranth-crown
Of angels in a holier sphere.

ALOE .

For rich Imagination's jewelled wand,
With living forms can fill the lonely hall;
With glorious bloom, enwreath the desert-sand,
And crown again, with sculpture's grace, the ruined temple's wall!

WAX MYRTLE .

Sweet, let us read our hearts together,
By the pure, fragrant lamp of Love!
'T will steadily burn, in stormy weather,
As now — for it was filled above.

EBONY .

Her brow is white as stainless snow,
As ebon, black, her heart of sin —
Her cheek with morning's blush doth glow
O'er midnight gloom within!

HAWTHORN .

Fair Hope, with light and buoyant form,
Came smiling through the clouds of Care,
Glanced bright defiance on the storm,
And hung her bow of promise there.

DAHLIA .

The light, the grace, the brilliant bloom,
Of Beauty, unendowed with heart,
Resemble flowers without perfume,
And just as little joy impart.

IVY .

Thou art a friend indeed,
Most truly true and kind;
Thou givest me, in my spirit-need,
Thy wealth of heart and mind!

COLUMBINE .

Folly of old, with gay deceit,
When Love was seeking Virtue's bower,
Led the bright boy to Beauty's feet;
And she, in that one fatal hour,
Enwove a chain so strong, so fair,
It bound them both for ever there!

BUCKBEAN .

There's danger in the dazzling eye,
That woos thee with its witching smile;
Another , when thou art not by,
Those beaming looks would fain beguile.

CIRCÆA, OR, ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE .

You 'll speed your conquering way I trow,
Through hearts, however narrow;
Those lips are Cupid's graceful bow,
That smile his sunlit arrow;