Slowly rose the daedal Earth
Through the purple-hued abysm,
Glowing like a gorgeous prism,
Heaven exulting o'er its birth.

Still the mighty wonder came
Through the jasper-colored sphere,
Ether-winged, and crystal-clear,
Trembling to the loud acclaim.

In a haze of golden rain
Up the heavens rolled the sun,
Danäe-like the earth was won,
Else his love and light were vain.

So the heart and soul of man
Own the light and love of heaven;
Nothing yet in vain was given,
Nature's is a perfect plan.

IRIS .

Perchance the gods, like us, conversed with flowers,
And Iris, their sweet messenger, did borrow
From the rich wreaths she bore in those bright hours,
Her wings' still varying hues of joy and sorrow: —
Oh! were she now on earth — how fit to bear
To thee, my goddess, all my love and care!

I ask not for thy Love, O Lord; the days
Can never come when anguish shall atone.
Enough for me were but Thy pity shown
To me, as to the stricken sheep that strays,
With ceaseless cry for unforgotten ways —
Oh, lead me back to pastures I have known,
Or find me in the wilderness alone,
And slay me as the hand of mercy slays.
I ask not for Thy love; nor e'en so much
As for a hope on Thy dear breast to lie;
But be Thou still my shepherd — still with such
Compassion as may melt to such a cry;

MEZEREON .

One wintry morn an icicle lay,
Chained, in the sunlight calm and clear,
To a graceful, delicate, frost-bound spray,
Like a diamond-drop in Beauty's ear.

My eye was caught by a strange, rich gleam,
That fitfully played in the pendant pure,
And I thought I saw two bright wings beam
Through the luminous ice; but I was not sure.

I stole to the place, and there — behold!
A fairy child in the icicle's heart!
Tossing his tresses of curled gold,
Shaking his tiny, suntipped dart; —

This life we know, of bliss and woe,
Then what will soft unfold;
Ah, sweet the years of loves and fears,
And youth's mad minted gold.

This life we know but lordly powers,
Above, below, that be,
What of the voyage that is ours
Over the unknown sea!

One kiss for thy brow, love —
One sigh to the past —
One heart-echoed vow, love —
The fondest and last! —
For the true and warm-hearted
In anguish must sever;
It is o'er — we are parted,
Henceforth and for ever!

Yet as Night's scented flower,
Shunning Sunlight's caresses,
Gives the hallowed star-hour
All the wealth it possesses,
So to thee, in thy sadness,

YELLOW-IRIS .

The German peasant wreathes his roof with flower in rich attire,
For sun-tressed Iris waves for him her urns of fragrant fire:
But we have let a holier gem our lowly home illume; —
The flower of love our lattice lights with undecaying bloom.

I loved my Art. I loved it when the tide
Was sweeping back my hopes upon the sand;
When I had missed the hollow of God's hand
Held over me, and there was none to guide.
I set my face towards it, raising high
My arm in token that I would be true
To all great motives, though I sorely knew
That there was one star wanting in my sky.
Touching the chords of many harmonies,
I needed one to make them all complete.
I heard it sound like thunder-gathered seas,
What time my soul knelt at my lady's feet.

CORNELIAN CHERRY-TREE .

Lady! my love for thee
Is like the cornel-tree; —
Once taken root, though slow, its growth is sure:
It is no passion-flower,
Lasting one summer-hour; —
While my heart lives — that feeling will endure.

TULIP .

Yes! by those eyes of azure glory,
Shedding their star-like smiles on me;
Yes! by that cheek, changing and glowing,
Warm as the plumage of yon bright lory,
By those ringlets so richly flowing,
Dearest, I love but thee!

Yes! by that foot of fairy fleetness,
Springing ever so light and free,