SOLFERINO.
I.
On Solferino’s dizzy heights there grew
The bright green grass and here and there were seen
The golden hues of flow’rets shining fair,
The bright, warm sunshine sparkled on the world
And all the cloudlets of the azure sky
Dark shadows threw upon the happy scene.
II.
But on the crest of that tall cliff there frowned
The battered walls the battlements and tow’rs,
And in the castle Solferino’s prince
Walked to and fro and ’round him stood his men.
And ere the heart had time to falter once
Was heard the deafening rolling cannon’s roar.
III.
“The foe has come!” They flew to arms, and ere
The echoes quite had died away, they gave
Forth shot for shot and shout for shout.
Then was thy life-blood spilt! That day
Was one of woe to thee Sardinia!
Those lives have left forevermore this earth.
IV.
Then came the awful ravage of the fray:
The cannon’s roar, the dying’s groan, the sounds of war.
And ev’rywhere was blood—the verdure was
Beneath the hard foot trampled and the day
Turned dark beneath the reign of chaos wild.
V.
The Mincio’s waters drifted toward the sea.
But ever on its bosom wild was borne
The life-blood of the soldier’s in the fray.
Ah! red as blood its once clear waters were,
And on its banks the same dread curse prevailed.
VI.
Thus man shall slay and man shall die until
The time when his wild fury thus unchecked
Shall spend itself and once relapse away.
Oh! may man’s conscience soon awake to learn
The wild disaster that his fury wrought.
POEMS.
THE TEMPEST.
The cold gray mist crept o’er the shore,
And hung about the bay;
We saw the foaming of the surf
Within the twilight gray.
But through the twilight cold and still
We heard the hum from yonder town;
We saw the path around the hill
Come winding ever slowly down.
The wild wind rose as night came on,
We heard the waves beat on the shore;
The tempest wailed and moaned about
Above the distant roar.
Sad night, alas! was that to some
Who, on the dreary ocean wide
Heard far and near the tempest come—
The wailing winds on either side.
A dreadful night—a stormy night—
It swept the wrecks ashore;
It was a time—a dreadful sight—
Forgotten nevermore.
That night was one of woe, alas!
The wild wind whistled by;
And seemed to be as it did pass
Some struggling sailor’s drowning cry.
THE PEACEFUL LAND.
Far in the west is a peaceful land
Where the golden sunset fades away,
And fast as the twilight shadows come
The sunset bids farewell to day.
The snow white vapor in fragments flies,
And the gold-edged clouds near the sunset move;
But the twilight, dim and dark and gray,
Steals fast from sight this land of love.
The zephyrs stir and the soft leaves wave
And sigh for the loss of the sunset sky;
But even the beauties that shine in the west
Must ever fade till the glories die.
THE LONELY CITY.
In the distance dim a valley lies
Where flows a deep dark river;
On the farther shore a city stands,
Where the tide flows on forever.
A cloud hangs o’er the city fair
By day in the valley yonder;
By night in the streets, devoid of light,
Wild phantoms ever wander.
No sound comes forth from the vacant domes
That gleam in the quiet air.
No living thing breaks the solitude—
But the phantoms wander there.
In the distance dim a valley lies
Where flows a rolling river,
But the phantoms wander by its side
As time flies by forever.
THE COURSE OF THE STREAM.
When the sunset in the west
Gilds the landscape far and near
Wraps the sun within his shroud
Dies he on a glorious bier.
When the night falls o’er the land,
Comes the cresent from the sky;
Silence reigns upon the scene,
As the brooklet hurries by.
When the starlight cold and still
Falls upon the earth below—
Falls upon the church-yard hill,
By the saddened brooklets flow.
Slower come the drifting waters
Ceasing once their noisy glee.
As it passes by it sings on
In a plaintive melody.
Ghostly rise the marble spectres
O’er the beds of those who sleep;—
Ever in the night or day time
Still their solemn vigils keep.
When the sunrise in the east
Gilds the sky with flames of light,
Runs the brooklet fast to meet
With its waters ever bright.
Onward to the flowing river,
And its waters mingle there;
Oh! when shall they return agan
To the brooklet shining fair?
THE STAR.
When the Christ was born on earth,
Then wise men the star did guide,
Till with riches they appeared
By the great Messiah’s side.
And the angels ever echoed
Songs of happiness again,
And a voice from heaven answered
Peace on earth good will to men.
Still the star whirled in its orbit
Round the sun of heat and light,—
Saw the earth in years advancing—
Watched her in her rapid flight.
When we slumber peacefully,—
When we think not what is near,
Still the star’s light shineth ever
All its beams are bright and clear.
Thus forever, yet unceasing,—
Still it shineth as of yore,
And shall be a guide and helper
Through the ages evermore.
FINIS.
