SESTINA. WANDERED o'er the vast green plains of youth, And searched for Pleasure. On a distant height Fame's silhouette stood sharp against the skies. Beyond vast crowds that thronged a broad highway I caught the glimmer of a golden goal, While from a blooming bower smiled siren Love. Straight gazing in her eyes, I laughed at Love, But when I reached that summit near the skies, Then were mine eyes fixed on that glittering goal, Gold buys the fresh ingenuous heart of youth, "And gold," I said, "will show me Pleasure's way." But ah! the soil and discord of that way, Where savage hordes rushed headlong to the goal, Dead to the best impulses of their youth, Blind to the azure beauty of the skies; Dulled to the voice of conscience and of love, Then Truth spoke to me from that noble height, Doth Pleasure make her way, but 'neath calm skies THE THE OPTIMIST. HE fields were bleak and sodden. Not a wing A soiled and sullen, stubborn snowdrift stood No gleam, no hint of hope in anything. The sky was blank and ashen, like the face Of some poor wretch who drains life's cup too fast. Yet, swaying to and fro, as if to fling About chilled Nature its lithe arms of grace, Smiling with promise in the wintry blast, The optimistic Willow spoke of spring. THE PESSIMIST. HE pessimistic locust, last to leaf, THE Though all the world is glad, still talks of grief. B AN INSPIRATION. OWEVER the battle is ended, Ho Though proudly the victor comes Still truth proclaims this motto In letters of living light, No question is ever settled Though the heel of the strong oppressor And the voices of fame with one acclaim May call him great and just, Let those who applaud take warning, Until it is settled right. Let those who have failed take courage; Tho' his ranks are strong, if he be in the wrong For, sure as the morning follows The darkest hour of the night, |