Classic Poem

From distant days and home's far distant strand,
The poet's greeting came o'er ocean's wave,
Like a sad murmur from the long-closed grave, —
Like a sweet murmur from the spirit's land!
While all the thousand ties were yet unbroken,
That greeting, — O, what joy it had inspired,
With what new might my swelling bosom fired,
And urged me onward with my master's token!
But ah! what then with kindling fire had wrought,
On this far shore awakes the saddening thought;
What once like Pharos-light hung out on high,
And shone the while my sails I boldly spread,
Is now too distant; — years of change have sped, —
The poet is no more, — no more a poet I.