Leona, dear, twelve months ago,
Your pensive soul I scarce did know;
A summer's touch we did require
To wake the strings of love's soft lyre.
...
The night hung o'er Virginia's forest wild,
Stately with beauty unsurpassed before
Shone the full moon serenely; and the wind
...
The morn hath risen clear and bright,
The sun displays his glorious light;
Through heaven's vault of azure dye,
...
I
'Toil! toil! toil!'
What curse is this sent from the hand of God,
...
I
The day is o'er and twilight's shade,
Is darkening forest, glen and glade;
...
I.
We had been school-mates, - she and I, -
How sad, those years have all rolled by.
...
O Death! why dost thou steal the great,
With grudging like to strongest hate,
And rob the world of giant minds,
...
'Alas! that such a soul should taste of death,'
Such lofty genius fade for want of breath,
Such wit find refuge 'mong the mournful dead, -
...
I
O, that the years had language! time would tell,
Of one bright night the moon has loved so well,
...
Some bright thoughts visit me to-night,
Of a lady fair to see,
Who hides a faithful heart from sight,
In a form of symmetry.
...
Know ye the man whom God has blessed,
With gifts peculiar to the rest
...
How many scenes, O sun,
Hast thou not shone upon!
How many tears, O light,
Have dropped before thy sight!
...
So tired! so weary -
The race - has been long,
And the paths have been rugged,
The winds have been strong, -
...
Oh, for a drink, to-night,
Mixed by some god of might,
A draught of strange device,
Though of exorbitant price,
...
(lines Written To My Dear Friend)
Leona, dear, twelve months ago,
Your pensive soul I scarce did know;
A summer's touch we did require
To wake the strings of love's soft lyre.
Accept this trifle, dear, and know
My blessing glides where'er you go.
May joy with her delightful breeze
Fan all your life, prays Eloise.