Classic Poem

BY Maria F ALCONAR .

H AIL , Gratitude, whose looks divinely bright,
Spread lustre through the thickest shades of night;
Whose beams divine, presiding o'er the soul,
Instruct the orb of charity to roll;
In melody, from thy angelic tongue,
The notes of heav'nly adoration sprung;
Sweet nymph, whose gentle hand alone can raise,
To notes of harmony, the lyre of praise;
Permit her thus to wait thy just decree,
Who dedicates her artless lay to thee.
Divine Omnipotence, whose boundless pow'r
Calls from the teeming earth each plant and flow'r;
The lowly vale with verdant herbage fills,
And pours for harmless flocks the crystal rills;
The finny race that in the rivers play,
All that through earth, or air, or ocean, stray;
His bounty share, and no return can be,
To please his pow'r, unless it spring from thee:
On thee the God of Nature smiles serene,
And sh'ning angels crowd to hail thee queen;
Before thy shrine, celestial goddess, cast
The wretch late shiv'ring in the wintry blast;
Whom bright benevolence flew swift to tear
From hunger, pain, and ever wild despair;
His humble praise falls prostrate to impart
Such praise as flows spontaneous from the heart.

Offspring of sensibility and truth,
O grant this wish, in favour to my youth;
Since public judgement must consign my name,
To dark oblivion, or to deathless fame;
Should my bless'd fate, by gentle chance, decree,
The fost'ring siniles of sweet applause for me;
O may my soul this just impression feel,
And conscious Gratitude my thanks reveal!