Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/445

 1840-50.] D. BETHUNE DUFFIELD. 429 THE MORNING-GLORY. In darkness and in tears, The night of sorrow sped, As I, with lacerated heart Kept vigil with the dead ; And o'er my baby's pallid brow The scented waters shed. The morning broke, but ah ! It brought no light to me, For ere that solemn day should pass, My child would hidden be Beyond the reach of mortal hand. Sealed for eternity. In wretched mood I turned And threw the casement wide. When lo ! in all its pearly bloom. Its soft and tender pride, The Morning-glory reared its head, And blessed me as I sighed. From out its smiling eyes Flowed words of sweetest tone, And whispered that in Paradise With glory like its own. My child that morning bloomed Above Christ's holy throne — And so this flower to me became The precious emblem of its name. FAREWELL : AN ANTE-NUPTIAL LOVE SONG. Farewell, Mary, for a season, Though that season brief may be, Yet the word must still be uttered, Farewell, Mary, then to thee. Farewell, till Spring's softest breezes Sweep around your open door. Till the garments of old Winter On the hills are seen no more. Farewell till the maple's blossom Dances on the swaying bough, And the blue-bird's joyous love-song Echoes all your garden through. Farewell, till the fragrant meadow Hails the bright and jocund May, And the lark mounts up to heaven. Pouring forth his bridal lay. Farewell, till all nature wakens And each brake and shady grove, Whispers with its thousand voices All the murmuring's of love. Then, dear Mary, I shall join them, And once more upon your breast. Sing in words of heart-rejoicing, What the birds sing round their nest. EARTH'S MOTHER-LOVE. He who once has known a mother. Kind and loving through his youth. Nevermore can love another With an equal strength and truth. Mother ! 'tis a word that opened Lips divine in Bethlehem's stall, And that word has ever tokened Christ's own love to those that fall. From that life of sad dejection All our Lord could bear above, Was the pure soul-fed aflPection Of his vii'gin mother's love. Well he knew her deep devotion, To the babe that graced her knee, Well recalls her wild emotion, Witnessed at the fatal tree. And from those enthroned in glory As the circling ages move.