John Bowring Poems

Can a vast interest veil a monstrous curse
And make it like a virtue? can the din
Whose thunders drown the wail of slavery's sin
...

Reviving sleep! thy shelt'ring wing
Is o'er the couch of labour spread;
Sweet minister, unearthly thing,
That hovers round the tired one's head.
...

Sweet flower! Spring's earliest, loveliest gem!
While other flowers are idly sleeping,
Thou rear'st thy purple diadem;
...

Two names I had inscribed upon this page,
Dear to my youth-and to my manhood dear-
But those who bore them dwell no longer here;
...

I saw, and gladness through my heart's folds ran,
An honest man salute an honest man!
(A hiss or two was heard; but thund'ring loud
...

'He was there alone,' when even
Had round earth its mantle thrown,
Holding intercourse with heaven:
'He was there alone.'
...

Father! whose benignant ear
Ever to the prayers attending
Of the humble worshipper,
Whether from Thy house ascending
...

Look to Jesus-sufferings gather
Round Him, piercing through and through:
Hear Him-'O forgive them, Father,
For they know not what they do!'
...

'Clay to clay, and dust to dust!'
Let them mingle-for they must!
Give to earth the earthly clod,
For the spirit's fled to God.
...

O how wise that God hath hidden
All the future from our view!
O how well that 'tis forbidden
Coming darkness to look through!
...