Classic Poem

INFLUENCE OF Nature .

How beautiful is Nature! and how kind,
In every season, every mood and dress,
To him who woos her with an earnest mind, —
Quick to perceive and love her loveliness!
With what a delicate yet mighty stress.
She stills the stormy passions of the soul, —
Subdues their tossings with a sweet control,
Till each spent wave grows gradually less,
And settles into calm! The worldling may
Disdain her, but to me, whate'er the grief, —
Whate'er the anger lingering in my breast,
Or pain of baffled hopes, — she brings relief;
Scares the wild harpy-brood of cares away,
And to my troubled heart sublimely whispers — " Rest! "

Forth on this white and dazzling winter noon,
Serene the earth, the heavens with beauty hung —
I come to her, that she may reättune
Discordant thoughts, and feelings all unstrung.
Sorrows the world believeth not have wrung
My heart until it bleeds, but bleeds unseen;
Distressful circumstance has come between
Endeavour and Fruition. I had flung
My hopes unto the winds, but Nature's smile
Cheers the lone chamber where my sorrows dwell;
Her gentle hand is on me, and the spell
My spirit doth of all its fears beguile;
My better being reäwakes and stirs,
And sings an inward song in unison with hers.

Ah, yes! the humblest of external things
Whereby she deigns to enchant us and to teach
(If loving heart the human learner brings),
Are signs of her grand harmonies and speech; —
The lapse of waters o'er a rugged stone, —
A pool of reeds, — a moorland weed or flower, —
A dimpling spring, — a thorn with moss o'ergrown, —
Are symbols of her universal power.
These speak a language to the favoured ear
Loud as the thunder, lofty as the lights
That crowd the cope of cloudless winter nights,
And fill the soul with worship, hope, and fear; —
Dull must he be, oppressed with earthly leaven,
Who looks on Nature's face, yet feels no nearer heaven!