Poems (Emma M. Ballard Bell)/Morning
For works with similar titles, see Morning.
POEMS.
MORNING.
O radiant Morn! when the fountains of light
Were opened, and in the dominions of Night
The gleams of a brightness earth never had known
Had parted the shadows so long o'er it thrown,—
The stars, ere from earth they had veiled their sweet rays,
Hymned unto Jehovah an anthem of praise.
Thou camest then, robed in a mantle of light,
And round thy brow rested a coronet bright.
Then earth, as it met the bright glance of thine eye,
Smiled joyful. Its smile was reflected on high.
The heavens smiled back to the earth, and thy sway
Together they owned, O bright herald of day!
Long ages, O Morn! in their silence have flown
Since first unto earth thy fair presence was known;
With joy in thine eye, and with light on thy brow,
And regal robes round thee, thou greetest us now.
How beautiful art thou when chill winter reigns,
With mantling snows resting on mountains and plains,
When crystals and icicles, lit with thy beam,
Are bright as the gems that in ocean-caves gleam!
How lovely, when springtime's or summer's sweet voice
Hath bid all the earth in its beauty rejoice!
And beautiful still, when, with sad, plaintive tone,
The autumn winds mourn for the summertide flown;
O'er trees, with their garlands of crimson and gold,
Thine eye rests in sadness, yet loves to behold.
How bright is thy coming when calm, peaceful Night
Glides softly away from thy shadowy light!
How welcome thy coming when tempests and storms
Have roamed through the night-hours in terrible forms!
Through raindrops and mists that may veil thy clear eyes,
And shroud thy bright robes of the gold-tinted dyes,
Thy beaming smile glances, and lo! in the west,
Where cloud-mountains rise with their dark, frowning crest,
The rainbow bends graceful its radiant form,—
The beautiful child of the sunbeam and storm.
O Morning! thy beauties to vision when given
May wake in the spirit deep dreamings of heaven;
May wake joyous thoughts in the spirit, where still
Are soul-founts the Infinite only can fill.
Though naught for these longings can earth's beauty bring,
Nor over our life-scenes immortal light fling,
We'll cherish these longings, and love thee the while,
Love Night's solemn presence and Morn's sunny smile,
Until from the shadows and sunlight of earth
We pass to that land where our spirits had birth;
Where souls breathe again their own native air,
And dreams in this life are reality there.
Were opened, and in the dominions of Night
The gleams of a brightness earth never had known
Had parted the shadows so long o'er it thrown,—
The stars, ere from earth they had veiled their sweet rays,
Hymned unto Jehovah an anthem of praise.
Thou camest then, robed in a mantle of light,
And round thy brow rested a coronet bright.
Then earth, as it met the bright glance of thine eye,
Smiled joyful. Its smile was reflected on high.
The heavens smiled back to the earth, and thy sway
Together they owned, O bright herald of day!
Long ages, O Morn! in their silence have flown
Since first unto earth thy fair presence was known;
With joy in thine eye, and with light on thy brow,
And regal robes round thee, thou greetest us now.
How beautiful art thou when chill winter reigns,
With mantling snows resting on mountains and plains,
When crystals and icicles, lit with thy beam,
Are bright as the gems that in ocean-caves gleam!
How lovely, when springtime's or summer's sweet voice
Hath bid all the earth in its beauty rejoice!
And beautiful still, when, with sad, plaintive tone,
The autumn winds mourn for the summertide flown;
O'er trees, with their garlands of crimson and gold,
Thine eye rests in sadness, yet loves to behold.
How bright is thy coming when calm, peaceful Night
Glides softly away from thy shadowy light!
How welcome thy coming when tempests and storms
Have roamed through the night-hours in terrible forms!
Through raindrops and mists that may veil thy clear eyes,
And shroud thy bright robes of the gold-tinted dyes,
Thy beaming smile glances, and lo! in the west,
Where cloud-mountains rise with their dark, frowning crest,
The rainbow bends graceful its radiant form,—
The beautiful child of the sunbeam and storm.
O Morning! thy beauties to vision when given
May wake in the spirit deep dreamings of heaven;
May wake joyous thoughts in the spirit, where still
Are soul-founts the Infinite only can fill.
Though naught for these longings can earth's beauty bring,
Nor over our life-scenes immortal light fling,
We'll cherish these longings, and love thee the while,
Love Night's solemn presence and Morn's sunny smile,
Until from the shadows and sunlight of earth
We pass to that land where our spirits had birth;
Where souls breathe again their own native air,
And dreams in this life are reality there.