Classic Poem

O There is a land which the sun loves to lighten
Whose bowers are of myrtle whose forests are palm
Whose shores the pure rays of the amethyst brighten
& Whose winds as they murmur are softer than balm

The streams of that land spring in might from their fountains
Rush through the deep valley & o'er the vast plain
Pass swiftly the cloud-crested sky-girdling mountains
As onward bright-bounding they meet the wide main

The boughs of the willow-tree gracefully drooping
Hang over their borders in shadowy gloom
And on the green banks to the clear waters sloping
Flowers bright as the rainbow eternally bloom

There silence asserts not her solemn dominion
There the bird of the wilderness evermore sings
Still tunes the sweet pipe & still waves the soft pinion
While Echo her tribute from far distance brings

But though fair as bright Elysian dreams
These vernal Eden bowers
Yet O this land hath other scenes
Than woods & streams & flowers

High hills that woo the winds of heaven
To breathe upon them from the skies
Rocks tempest shaken, thunder-riven
Whose cliffs like giant turrets rise

Great cataracts rolling down the steep
Shaking the sky & steady shore
Rousing all Nature from her sleep
With hoarse, rebounding, thunderous roar

Trees shaken by the wailing blast
Wave in the dim air mournfully
While sullen sounds float fitful past
Like the dull moaning of the sea

There rubys shed their blood-red ray
There orient em'ralds softly gleam
There diamond[s] flash forth transient day
And emulate the solar beam

But vainly the diamond sheds light thro that land
As though formed by the might of some dark wizards wand
And vainly the rivers flow forth to the sea
In brightness & beauty and sweet melody
And the hills lift their tall stately summits on high
And the winds are called forth from the heart of the sky
And vainly the cataracts roll swift down the steep
To a murmur is softened the roar of the deep
The bright sun in vain to this far land is given
And the Planets look forth from the windows of heaven
The birds sing unheeded in woods fresh & green
And the flowers grow unscented ungathered unseen
The Lion rules the forest & the eagle the air
Mankind is dominionless portionless there
His voice never rung through those wide spreading woods
His bark never stemmed the wild rush of those floods
His foot never trod on the green flowery sward
No beast of these deserts acknowledged him lord
His hand never gathered those gems rich & rare
Mankind is dominionless [portionless there]