Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/520

 504- EDWARD D. HOWARD. [1850-60. Has life grown weary in its noon, Uncrowned, inglorious, incomplete ? — Has the flower faltered in its bloom Witholding its precious sweet ? — Around its fragrant center still Folding, in darkness and decay, Those inmost petals, which in love Blossom life's fragrant joy away ? Oh, come with me beneath the trees ; — Forget thyself in nature's joy! Here dwells no baffled, longing pain — No disappointment to annoy ! Here triumph in her full success ; Here revel in her boundless bloom ; Blend her sweet consciousness with thine, And take her sunlight for thy gloom. Thus shall thy inmost spirit feel The thrill of deep, victorious song, And life be crowned with happiness When fair midsummer days are long. FRATERNITY. Come together, men and brothers, Come together for the right ; Come together in the dawning, — Come together in the light ; As the rays of sunny gladness Mingle o'er the mountains gray, Mingle we in bonds fraternal. Blending joyfully as they ! Come together — do not linger By the fires of hatred old ; Love is better and more worthy, Beautiful an hundved fold. Grope no more amid the ashes — Bury deep the embers there ; For a purer light noM^ flashes Through the vivifying air. Come together — be united ! Common friends for common good : What is best for you, my brother, Can on no one's rights intrude. " What is sorrowful and evil For the humblest of mankind. This is sorrow to all others ! " Saith the pure, enlightened mind. Come together ! — Earth and Heaven Wait expectant of the time ; Freedom brightly o'er us With a smile of hope sublime. Angels linger at the portals Of the bright and happy world. Gazing down with joyful glances Where free banners are unfurled ! I DREAM OF THEE. I DREAM of thee, and sleep becomes The spring-time of untold delight; While Heaven, which lingers far away By day, comes near me in the night. I dream of thee, and life becomes A blessing fraught with nameless bliss ; Till angels in their starry homes Might envy me the joys of this. The daylight fades, — soft shadows fall — Care spares me till to-morrow morn ; While sleep o'ertints with love and hght Night's visions, brighter than the dawn. I love the night for starry hours, For quiet thought, and peaceful resl; ; But when it brings a dream of thee, Oh, then the night indeed is bless'd ! 'Tis said this life is but a dream, I would that such my hfe might be : — A lingering dream of countless years. If 'twere a dream of love and thee !