REPLY OF THE MESSENGER BIRD.
Thou art come from the spirits’ land, thou bird!
Thou art come from the spirits’ land:
Through the dark pine grove let thy voice be heard,
And tell of the shadowy band!
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But tell us, thou bird of the solemn strain,
Can those who have loved, forget?
We call—and they answer not again—
Do they love, do they love us yet?
F. HEMANS.
Yes! yes, I have come from the spirits’ land,
From the land that is bright and fair,
I come with a voice from the shadowy band,
To tell that they love you there!
To say, if a wish or a fond regret
Could live in Elysian bowers,
’Twould be for the friends they could ne’er forget,
The loved of their youthful hours;