Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1824.pdf/55

54 Literary Gazette, 12th June, 1824, Pages 378-379

ORIGINAL POETRY. STANZAS. Race of the rainbow wing, the deep blue eye Whose palace was the bosom of a flower; Who rode upon the breathing of the rose; Drank from the harebell; made the moon the queen Of their gay revels; and whose trumpets were The pink-veined honeysuckle; and who rode Upon the summer butterfly: who slept Lulled in the sweetness of the violet's leaves,— Where are ye now? And ye of eastern tale, With your bright palaces, your emerald halls; Gardens whose fountains were of liquid gold; Trees with their ruby fruit and silver leaves,— Where are ye now?

Alas! alas! the times are fled Of magic gift or spell; No Fairy aids true lovers now, Let them love ne'er so well.

In vain the moon, in vain the stars, Shine on the haunted ring; In vain the glow-worm's lamp—it lights No elfin revelling.

And even from their eastern halls The mystic race of yore Have fled; they build their palaces, Give their rich gifts no more.

Would some kind Spirit would arise, And lead me to the shrine Where is Aladdin's lamp, and make The spell of power mine!

I would not bid its genii rear Their glorious hall again; Oh, marble walls and jewelled throne Make but a gilded chain.

But I would have a little ship, In which I'd cross the sea; How pleasant it would be, to sail In storm, or shine, with thee!

And we should hear the silver tides Make music to the moon, And see the waters turned to gold Beneath the summer noon.

Then we would have an island made Of Summer and of Spring, And every flower from east and west My Spirits there should bring.

The tulip should spring up beside The purple violet, The carmalata's crimson bloom Round the pale primrose set.

The pine should grow beside the palm; And our sweet home should be Where jasmine the green temple wreathed Of a Banana tree.