Smooth down my cares and calmly breathe ; M ON A PICTURE OF A GIRL LEADING HER BLIND MOTHER THROUGH THE WOOD. THE green leaves as we pass Lay their light fingers on thee unaware, And by thy side the hazels cluster fair, And the low forest-grass Grows green and silken where the wood-paths windAlas! for thee, sweet mother! thou art blind! And nature is all bright; And the faint gray and crimson of the dawn, Quivers in tremulous softness on the sky- The moon's new silver shell Trembles above thee, and the stars float up, And the swift birds on glorious pinions flee Alas! sweet mother! that thou canst not see! And the kind looks of friends Peruse the sad expression in thy face, And the child stops amid his bounding race, And the tall stripling bends Low to thine ear with duty unforgot Alas sweet mother! that thou seest them not! But thou canst hear! and love May richly on a human tone be pour'd, And the least cadence of a whisper'd word A daughter's love may prove― And while I speak thou knowest if I smile, Albeit thou canst not see my face the while! Yes, thou canst hear! and He Who on thy sightless eye its darkness hung, To the attentive ear, like harps, hath strung Heaven and earth and sea? And 'tis a lesson in our hearts to know.. With but one sense the soul may overflow. TO A STOLEN RING. OH for thy history now! Hadst thou a tongue To whisper of thy secrets, I could lay Upon thy jewell'd tracery mine ear And dream myself in heaven. Thou hast been worn Of sadness, when the weary thoughts came fast, Its vividness and beauty. She has gazed And mused away the hours, and she has bent |