Poems (Emma M. Ballard Bell)/Indian Maiden's Lament
INDIAN MAIDEN'S LAMENT.
Where the rushing, foaming billows
Of a noble river glide,
With the gently swaying willows
Flinging shadows o'er its tide;
Of a noble river glide,
With the gently swaying willows
Flinging shadows o'er its tide;
By its darkly-gleaming water,
On the lovely flow'r-decked shore,
Sat an Indian chieftain's daughter
Mourning for the days of yore,—
On the lovely flow'r-decked shore,
Sat an Indian chieftain's daughter
Mourning for the days of yore,—
For the days when through the wildwood,
Through the forest, and the glade,
She had wandered in her childhood
Unmolested, unafraid;
Through the forest, and the glade,
She had wandered in her childhood
Unmolested, unafraid;
When the red man down the river
Floated in his light canoe;
With his arrows and his quiver
Hunted the dark forest through.
Floated in his light canoe;
With his arrows and his quiver
Hunted the dark forest through.
Once the sun its bright rays darted
Over lands no white man trod;
Now the Indian, broken-hearted,
Sadly pressed his native sod.
Over lands no white man trod;
Now the Indian, broken-hearted,
Sadly pressed his native sod.
With the fires of anger flashing
From her dark and piercing eye,
Scornfully the tear-drops dashing,
Checking ev'ry rising sigh,
From her dark and piercing eye,
Scornfully the tear-drops dashing,
Checking ev'ry rising sigh,
Wild and fearful words she uttered
In that still, sequestered place;
Wrathful imprecations muttered
On the white man and his race.
In that still, sequestered place;
Wrathful imprecations muttered
On the white man and his race.
"Time shall come, O pale-faced nation!
When the Spirit ye call God
Shall pour woe and desolation
Over all the land so broad;
When the Spirit ye call God
Shall pour woe and desolation
Over all the land so broad;
"Blood and carnage, like a river,
Shall sweep o'er your country wide,
Making hearts with anguish quiver,
Bearing death-groans on its tide."
Shall sweep o'er your country wide,
Making hearts with anguish quiver,
Bearing death-groans on its tide."
Then her voice grew low; and sadness
Lingered o'er the maiden's words.
Hushed seemed ev'ry note of gladness
'Mong the warbling forest birds.
Lingered o'er the maiden's words.
Hushed seemed ev'ry note of gladness
'Mong the warbling forest birds.
E'en the dark trees seemed to listen;
Lower bent their stately heads,
Bright with hues that on them glisten
When the sun its last beams sheds.
Lower bent their stately heads,
Bright with hues that on them glisten
When the sun its last beams sheds.
"I am weary," said the maiden;
"Like some bird lost from its home,
All my song is sorrow-laden,
As I through this forest roam.
"Like some bird lost from its home,
All my song is sorrow-laden,
As I through this forest roam.
"Farewell, O thou foaming river!
With thy lovely flow'r-decked shore;
Farewell,—aye, farewell forever;
I shall greet thee nevermore.
With thy lovely flow'r-decked shore;
Farewell,—aye, farewell forever;
I shall greet thee nevermore.
"For I feel that I am drifting
Onward to death's silent shores;
Soon, these tired hands uplifting,
I shall drop life's weary oars.
Onward to death's silent shores;
Soon, these tired hands uplifting,
I shall drop life's weary oars.
"Soon I'll reach those sunny islands
In the far-off shining sea;
Where upon their blooming highlands
I shall roam forever free.
In the far-off shining sea;
Where upon their blooming highlands
I shall roam forever free.
"There the smiles of that Great Spirit
Shall repay the Indians' wrong;
Brighter homes they will inherit
Than the ones they loved so long.
Shall repay the Indians' wrong;
Brighter homes they will inherit
Than the ones they loved so long.
"Farewell, then, O foaming river!
Farewell rock, and tree, and shore;
Farewell,—yes, farewell forever,
I shall greet ye nevermore."
Farewell rock, and tree, and shore;
Farewell,—yes, farewell forever,
I shall greet ye nevermore."