Classic Poem

Then — comes the burst, the vision, broad awake
To see, what, thought on , makes the reason shake.
Mountains! where are ye! nay, thou grave! to hide
Our glance from all the dazzling, grand, untried!
A pang, — a moment — and we've burst the pall
Where all o'erwhelms; impress'd immortal , all!
How shall we melt in homage, as move by
The regal people of eternity!
Deep shuddering, as we think, how oft, how near,
Viewless, — they cross'd us in their high career: —
Kings of the elements! that now, embrow'd
With majesty, expand from fire and cloud;
In our mad hours what witnesses look'd on,
What godlike might! yet were we not undone;
Shall we, like infants upon Ocean's shore,
Startled from sleep amid the tempest's roar,
Wild-waking, withering, behold unveil'd
The secrets that the deep of deeps has held?
Redemption, seraph mysteries, things that Earth
Was born, heaven shaken, but to bring to birth;
The wheels, within whose thundering sweep mankind
Moved, yet were crush'd not; moved, in mercy, blind;
Fate's vast machinery, orbits, blaze on blaze,
Yet midnight to His lone pavilion's rays!

Or shall we meet the parted heart, — for Love,
Heaven's last best gift cannot decay above;
The hallow'd heart, whose life, whose very grave
Gave us the lofty thoughts Earth never gave;
And made our spirit doubly purified,
To hope the hope, to die the death she died?
Oh! shall we, in the shadow of her wing,
Be veil'd and sooth'd, till Heaven's high feelings spring
In the faint soul; — till changed, from height to height
It soars, all boundless vision, beauty, light;
All that foretold th' immortal in our sphere,
Faith, friendship, love, but buds, to flourish there,
A crown'd and sceptred GLORY , brightening on
Still nearer to the throne, — a FATHER'S throne!