He who, from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, In the long way that I must tread alone, Will lead my steps aright. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. THE SANDPIPER. ACROSS the narrow beach we flit, And fast I gather bit by bit, The scattered driftwood, bleached and dry. Above our heads the sullen clouds I see the close-reefed vessels fly, I watch him as he skims along Or flash of fluttering drapery; He has no thought of any wrong, He scans me with a fearless eye; Staunch friends are we, well tried and strong, The little sandpiper and I. Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night, CELIA THAxter. THE SKYLARK. BIRD of the wilderness, Blythesome and cumberless, Blest is thy dwelling-place O to abide in the desert with thee! Wild is thy lay and loud Far in the downy cloud, Love gives it energy, love gave it birth. Where art thou journeying? Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth, O'er fell and fountain sheen, O'er moor and mountain green, O'er the red streamer that heralds the day, Over the rainbow's rim, Then, when the gloaming comes, Low in the heather blooms, Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be! Blest is thy dwelling-place O to abide in the desert with thee! JAMES HOGG. THE BROOKSIDE. I WANDER'D by the brookside, I could not hear the brook flow, But the beating of my own heart Was all the sound I heard. I sat beneath the elm tree, I watch'd the long, long shade, And as it grew still longer I did not feel afraid; The evening air pass'd by my cheek, But the beating of my own heart Fast, silent tears were flowing, A hand was on my shoulder, I knew its touch was kind; RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES (LORD HOUGHTON). THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS. THIS is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign, The venturous bark that flings On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings And coral reefs lie bare, Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair. Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl; Wreck'd is the ship of pearl! And every chamber'd cell, |