The Transatlantic Flower Poem by Josias Homely

In au article on 'Atlantic Steam Navigation' in a number of the 'Quarterly Review,' is the following; —'One of the passengers in this ship (the Great Western) brought over a splendid buiiquet of American flowers, which he was enabled to present to a Lady, (such was the rapidity of the voyage) it seemed almost as fresh as if the dew was still on it.

The fire-ship* flew like the carrier dove
With the greetings of peace and the words of love;
O'er the bounding waves she has swept along,
With the minstrel's mirth and the mariner's song.
She has bounded on with the valiant brave.
Where the halcyon slept on the summer wave,
And the peterel—child of the sullen storm,
She has left in her flight— where its spectre form
Is seen to flit o'er the billows foam,
Swift as a shade from the silent tomb.

The brave and the valiant had gathered round,|
And with blessings had greeted the HOME-reard bound;
She had left on the deep in stern amaze,
The most gallant barks of the by gone days.
Now the lordly merchants are counting o'er
Her wealth and her o-ems and her eolden store;
And the sons of pleasure have hastened forth,
For the crystal draughts of the frozen north.||
But why is that maiden standing by,
With a diamond tear in her deep blue eye?

What means the tumult which swells her breast?
What comes to her from the distant west?
Frail dying child of the passing hour.
Sweet gem of her heart—tis a fading flower—
A lov'd one had dropt on its bloom a tear,
She bends o'er the gift and his breath is there.
Like love himself from his native sky,
Come here for a moment to smile and die.