Classic Poem

On a day in the early autumn time,
I roamed with a friend afar,
Where the ebon berries, and the orchis fair,
And the lofty pine-trees are.

Oh, the music roar of the forest-pine,
How it filled my heart with glee,
As it brought to mem'ry's view the hours
Of my childhood by the sea!
The feathery fern by the mossy rock
In its wild luxuriance grew;
And the trailing vines of the blackberry swept
In the tangled pathway new;
And the music-voice of the forest-pines
Filled the air with melody,
Like the roar of the cataract's waters grand,
Or the sound of the distant sea.

There the fragrant saxifraga rose
By the whortleberry's side,
In the welcome shade of the lofty trees,
Where the zephyrs cool abide;
And the verdurous plumes of the forest pines
Swift waved in their murmurous glee;
And my heart went back to my childhood's home
And the voice of its sounding sea.

There the song of the forest-bird was heard
From the bough far-off and high,
And the whistle clear of the farmer's boy
As he came our pathway nigh;
But the solemn voice of the murmurous pines
Was the sweetest sound to me,
As it brought to mind those earlier hours
By its roar like the distant sea.

When the ransomed gather in bliss at last,
Where the sea shall roll no more,
Say, how shall the heart be satisfied
That was born on an island shore?
Oh, the music-roar of the forest-pines
May be heard from Life's fair tree,
And its healing leaves have a murmurous voice,
Like the sound of the distant sea!