Classic Poem

Once, when the sun-burst flew
its banner above broad seas and eastern hills,
my casement knew
that morning in her wondrous isle of youth distils

perpetual balm, and tidings trumpeted
of Eden air
winsome and quick, round many a wilding grace unwed,
clad only in glad hair,

bade fancy soar
far and aloft along that limitless ecstasy
of crystal, towards some shore
where life were crown'd amidst a halcyon sea.

Now — desolate, despairful (lamentable retreat!
wreck'd wheels and spars!),
streaming from irresistible defeat
the broken field of stars:

and all our hope they bore, the appointed word
and that unbroken song
that should resolve our suffering dark in peace, deferr'd