Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/343

 1840-50.] ELEANOR P. LEE 327 That held my mother's dust, and let the cry From my deep soul h&ve way. And evermore I turned, With a true heart, unto the old dark tower. To see, if yet its heaven-borne fires burned As in my natal hour. But at the last I came, And darkness found ; upon that lonely spire New lights had come, and put the old to shame : They quenched thee, faithful fire. Extinguished beacon ! yet Unto my soul still dear thy gloomy tower — Thou wert a star, I cannot all forget, To me in childhood's hour. Thus to my place of birth, My heart still turns w4th fervor to the last: Though all her glory were extinct on earth, My love would hold her fast. Though on that spot again, My kindred's steps should never more be known. My birthplace holds my spirit in her chain — For am I not her own ? Never, again, shalt thou. Light-house ! shine bright over that cliff" so bold ; Never shall childhood's eye, far, far below, Vigils of deep love hold. A faithful watch both kept: Yet thee they yield, with all thy fires, to gloom ; But in my breasit immortal life hath leapt. And such is not its doom. Yes, thou and I have burned With a wild flame, awhile to soar on high : Thou unto darkness hast thy visage turned. To heavenly glory I. THE SUN-STRUCK EAGLE. I SAW an eagle sweep to the sky — The godlike ! — seeking his place on high, With a strong, and wild, and rapid wing — A dark, and yet a dazzling thing ; And his arching neck, his bristling crest. And the dark plumes quivering upon his breast ; And his eye, bent up to each beam of light. Like a bright sword flashed with a sword in fight. I saw him rise o'er the forest trees ; I saw his pinion ride the breeze ; Beyond the clouds I watched him tower On his path of pride — his flight of power. I watched him wheeling, stern and lone, Where the keenest ray of the sun was thrown, Soaring, circling — bathed in light : Such was that desert eagle's flight. Suddenly, then, to my straining eye, I saw the strong wing slack on high, Failing, falling to earth once more. The dark breast covered with foam and gore. The dark eyes' glory dim with pain. Sick to death with a sun-struck brain ! Reeling down from that height divine, Eagle of heaven, such fall was thine! Even so we see the sons of light, Up to the day-beam steer their flight ; And the wing of genius cleaves the sky. As the clouds rush on when the winds are high; Then comes the hour of sudden dread — Then is the blasting sunlight shed, And the gifted fall in their agony. Sun-struck eagle, to die like thee !