Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/119

 1830-40.] OTWAY CURRY, 10.- "We strive with earthly im agings To reach and understand The wondrous and the fearful things Of an Eternal Land. We talk of amaranthine bowers, And living groves of palm, Of stany crowns, and fadeless flowers, And skies forever calm. We talk of wings and raiment white, And pillared thrones of gold. And cities built of jewels bright, Far in the heavens, of old. Are these things worse than fancy's play ? Are they, in very deed, The free soul's guerdon, far away, Its everlasting meed ? Or shall the spii'it, in its flight Beyond the stars sublime. See nothing but the radiance white Of never-ending time ? Shall things material change again, And wholly be forgot ? And round us only God remain, A universe of thought ? We know not well — we cannot know, Our reason's glimmering light Can nothing but the darkness show Of our surrounding night. But- soon the doubt, and toil, and strife, Of earth shall all be done. And knowledge of our endless life Be in a moment won. CHASIDINE. Walked she for a few brief years In a land of toil and tears. With a patient hope preparing For the holiest spheres. Never with the pure one strove Spirit of a sinful love. For her soul was filled with dreamings Of its home above. Joyed she heavenly seed to sow, In the midst of tears and woe, Growing oft, as oft the flowers In the rains do grow. Stood she near the nightly gloom Of the slumber of the tomb. Planting hopes that shall not wither Till the morning come. Sung she with melodious tongue. Heaving human hearts among, Happy songs, like those in Eden, By the sinless sung. But she might not always sing. Where of time the travailino- wincr Weai's away and renders soundless Each silvery string. Fainter grew the lingering lay. As the gliding years gave way. Till the pale and fragile singer Could no longer stay. Nevermore the grief to share Which the mortal millions bear. She has entered where the weary Cease from toil and care. Gathered to the viewless coast — Numbered with the shining host, Vain is every earthly sorrow For the early lost. Words of long and loving cheer Left she for my sad soul here. I shall in the bright world coming. By her side appear. When the dimless noon shall shine On immortal eyes of mine, I shall see her in her beauty, In the licht divine.