UNKNOWN FLOWERS.
"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen."
| Oh! many are the unknown flowers, By human eyes unseen, That bloom in nature's woodland bowers, Of bright and changeless green. The brightest flowers earth ever knew, Of lovely breath, and brilliant hue, Are sparkling there with morning dew, Or bright with summer showers— Above them tower the forest trees, And o'er them blows the gentle breeze, And by them many a mountain stream Runs eddying thro' its banks of green, And to each bud that o'er it bends A drop of pearly radiance lends, Dashes its sides with snowy spray, Then hurries on its course away— The wood-bee revels on their sweets, And 'neath their leaves the bright Fay sleeps; And by them bounds the gentle deer So full of life, so full of fear: And lovely birds, whose brilliant wings Are bright with hues of brighter things, Make music in those woodland bowers, Those Edens of the unknown flowers. |
MORNA.
SONNET TO ********.
BY ALEXANDER LACY BEARD, M.D.
| I will not leave thee! no by heaven I swear, Although thy soul be stained with guilt and shame, I will not leave thee! for by me it came— Then cheer up, sweet one, shudder not with fear; From my own side, thy form they shall not tear; I will not leave thee! one undying flame Burns in my breast!—will ever burn the same, 'Mid sorrow's storm, and darkest hour of care. O that some far off, dark, and desart isle, To man a stranger and his heartless pride, Would take us to its bosom lone and wild, Where I, unwatched, could wander by thy side, Soothed by thy voice and gladden'd by thy smile, Rich in thy love so long and deeply tried. |