Classic Poem

As the broad mountain where the shadows flit
Of clouds dispersing in the summer-breeze;
Or like the eye of one who high does sit
On Taòrmìnas' antique height & sees
The fiery Mount afar, the Ruin near at hand,
The flowers, the purple waves that wash the golden strand.

So changed my thought from light to shade;
At times exulting in the glow of hope, at times
In darkness cast by what my soul had said;
'Till sunk in reverie her words seemed chimes
From some far tower, that tell of nuptial joy,
Or knell that fills the air as with a lingering sigh.

Again I raised my downcast eyes to look
Upon the scene so beautiful when lo!
The stream no longer from the cavern took
Its gentle way 'tween flowery banks & low
But through a landscape varied, rich & vast
Beneath a sky that dusky cloud had surely never passed.

Wide was the river; with majestic flow
And pomp & power it swept the curving banks
Like some great conqueror whose march is slow
Through tributary lands; while the abasèd ranks,
Shrinking give back on either hand o'erawed
As though their hearts confirmed the presence of a God.

And like some Wizard's mirror, that displays
The Macrocosm, it did reflect the sky,
Rocks, lawns & mountains with their purple haze,
And living things, the filmy butterfly,
The trembling fawn that drinks, the fluttering dove
And the triumphant eagle soaring far above.

And trees like those which spread their pleasant shade
Oer the green slopes of Eden, & the bowers
Of the once sinless pair, soft, intermingling made
Stood on each shore with branches lifted high
And caught eolian strains that wandered from the sky.

Far, far away the shining river sped
Towards the etherial mountains which did close
Fold beyond fold until they vanishèd
In the horizon's silver, whence uprose
A structure strangely beautiful & vast
Which every earthly fane Egyptian, Gothic, Greek, surpassed.

It seemed a gorgeous palace in the sky
Such as the glad sun builds above the Deep
On summer-eve & lighteth dazzlingly,
Where towering clouds climb up the azure steep
And pinnacles on pinnacles fantastic rise
And ever-changing charm the wondering eyes.

There, rank oer rank that climbed the crystal air
In horizontal majesty, were crossed
The multitudinous shafts, or ranged afar
Till in the blue perspective they were lost,
And arches linked with arches stretched along
Like to the mystic measures of an antique song.

An antique song whose half-discovered sense
Seems to spring forth from depths, as yet, unknown
And fills the heart with wonder & suspense
Until to thrilling rapture it is grown;
Breathless we listen to each wandering strain
And when the numbers cease we listen still again.

Above the columned pile sublimely rose
A Dome stupendous, like the moon it shone
When first upon the orient sky she glows
And moves along the Ocean's verge alone;
And yet beyond, above, another sphere
And yet another, vaster, dimly did appear.

As though the blue supernal space were filled
With towers & temples, which the eye intent
Piercing the filmy atmosphere that veiled,
From glorious dome to dome rejoicing went,
And the deep folds of ether were unfurled
To show the splendors of a higher world.

But from the vision of the upper air
My eye descended to the lucid stream;
The wingèd Boat—the Voyagers were there;
But the fair Infant of my earlier dream
Now stood a Youth on manhood's verge, his eye
Flashing with confidence & hot expectancy,

Was lifted toward the sky-encastled scene,
His hand had grasped the helm once gently held
By that Angelic figure so serene,
And eager stretching toward the scene beheld,
His bosom heaved as if with secret powers
Possessed to tread the deep—to outstrip the flying Hours.

With face benignant yet impinged by sorrow,
As oft the sky of eve by melancholy cloud
Which though it doth forbode a stormy morrow
Is not less beautiful, the Angel stood
Upon the bank as from the Boat just freed
And waved her graceful hand & bade the Youth “God Speed.”

As one emerging from some misty vale
Meets the glad splendor of the rising sun;
Or mariner who the wintry sea doth sail
Through opening wrack beholds the harbor won,
So did I gaze upon the charming scene
And in my joy forgot the Vision Infantine.

When thus the Voice in plaintive accents mild:
“Ah simple mortal Earth has many a show
“That passes quickly—thou a credulous child,
“All men are children & they thoughtless go
“Through life's strange vale lingering by every flower
“Forgetful life is labor and its term an hour.

“The scene before thee beautiful & bright
“Is but a phantasm of Youths heated brain
“And doomed to fade as day before the night;
“Fleeting its glory, transitory, vain;
“Save that it teaches the meek humble soul
“Earth's grandeur 'neer should be the spirit's Goal.

“Not that the earth foundationless is laid,
“An unsubstantial thing, a cloud, a mist;
“But 'tis a darkling soil wherein the seed
“Of Virtue planted, tended may subsist
“And washed by many tears may grow
“To more enduring beauty than these gauds below.

“But mark the Youth, how filled his eager eye
“With the bright exhalation.—See! he aims
“To reach the portal of the palace high
“Above whose cloudy arch resplendant flames
“The tempting semblance of a conqueror's crown
“And wreath to bind the brows of him who wins renown.

“And while he gazes greater glories rise
“Loftier still loftier; ardent young desire
“With telescopic vision fills the skies.
“Gay are the banks in verdurous attire
“And swift the river floweth toward his hope
“The palace stands beyond, reached by a gentle slope.

“Weak & deluded one! Dost thou not know
“Thy Bark is hasting down the Stream of Life
“And tarries not for any golden show
“In pleasure's bowers though with beauty rife!
“So doth the comet pass the planets by
“Nor rests; but speeds on its appointed destiny.

“Does not thine eye perceive that when yon towers
“Are well nigh gained with sudden sweep the stream
“And growing swiftness, shoots away & pours
“Impetuous, towards a shadowy ravine deep
“Cleft in the mountain's vast & misty side
“As though it eager sought its thwarted floods to hide.”

The voice had paused: And is it thus I cried,
That Youth's fond hopes must ever pass away;
As empty dreams, untouched unsatisfied:
Why leaves the Angel on his dangerous way
The Voyager? That hand divine could steer
The willing Boat to where yon glittering domes uprear.

And lingering by these fresh & verdant shores
E'en youth might live a long long life of joy
And shun perchance the torrent where it pours
Adown yon dread descent. To which reply
Soon came, “Shrouded as now thou art in earth
“Thou canst not see the end for which came mortal birth.

“In the Almighty mind the secret cause is laid;
“This must thou learn, that our brief mortal life
“Nor rests nor lingers; nor is checked nor stayed
“By human skill or might howeer so rife;
“Nor is it in an Angel's godlike power
“To lengthen out its wasting thread one single hour.

“Through feeble Infancy is steered the Bark of Life
“By Angel hands; but growing man demands
“The helm in confidence & dares the strife
“Of the far-sweeping waves. The lurking sands,
“The rapids foaming through the channel dim,
“The roaring cataract are all unknown to him.

“Wisdom is born of sorrow & of care
“And from man's conflicts with the world arise
“A sense of weakness & of chilling fear
“And driven from earth his hopes ascend the skies;
“Thus is he left upon the stream alone
“To chasten pride & give young desire a purer, holier tone.

“He is alone; but still deserted never
“The Angel yet shall watch his perilous way,
“And though the clouds of earth may seem to sever,
“Still through the darkness shines the Angelic ray;
“And in the hour of midnight o'er the deep
“The Guardian Spirit kind will constant vigil keep.”