SONG.

THE FLOWERS OF LIFE.

The flowers of life, they flourish fair,
When morning suns they court;
When western breezes fan the air,
And hope is their support;

But ah! they droop their tender heads,
When eve her dusky shadows spreads.

The flowers of life, they flourish sweet,
When youth its warmth imparts;
And when congenial spirits meet,
They twine around their hearts;
But ah! how swift is their decay,
The fairest fade the first away.

A. P. L.

NATURE.

I.

I broke the charm that held me long,
The dear, dear witchery of song:
I said, the poet's idle lore

Should waste my prime of years no more;
For poetry, though heavenly born,
Consorts with poverty and scorn.

II.

I broke the charm, nor deemed its power
Could fetter me another hour:

Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget,
Its causes were around me yet;

For wheresoe'er I looked, the while,

Was nature's everlasting smile.

III.

Still came, and lingered on my sight

Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,

And glory of the stars and sun,

And these and poetry are one:

They, ere the world had fixed me long,

Recalled me to the love of song.