Classic Poem

I T was a summer's day, and the warm air
Was glowing in my frame; all things around
With heat, and youth, and joy were animate;
The very breeze was loaded with the hum
Of happy myriads, on their light blue wings,
Exhaling their glad being, eagerly
Sipping heaven's nectar from the opening flowers.
The little vetch, with its deep purple bloom
And slender stalk; the bright convolvulus
With canopy of blue and fragile frame,
Clinging around for succour; the low daisy,
With little buds up peeping, blossom'd round
In wild luxuriance. On the ground I lay,
Musing in that cessation of the thoughts
Which is so sweet and inexpressible,
When new ideas beam upon us, and
The soul is loosen'd from the daily burthen
Of common cares and feelings; — can expand,
Urg'd by its fancy and the blest scenes round,
In waking visions, and unfold its wings.

Over my head the deep embowering trees
Form'd a soft shade: — with venerable trunks
And richly loaded boughs impending round. —
The dark green wood shone brightly beautiful,
And lighter trees in many a graceful group,
Met my eyes wandering, and inspir'd my touch:
And there were forms mov'd round me — forms I lov'd,
Of whom I could not recollect the day
When first I knew them; — who in infancy
Had been my playmates — in all little sports
Welcome companions. Many a summer sun
And winter evening we beguil'd together;
And when the spirit of our childhood fled,
And riper years and deeper cares came on,
Youth found us friends, and with more thoughtful love
Endear'd us to each other. Were all there? —
Did not my eye want one accustom'd smile?
Did not my heart own one sad vacancy?
Ah yes! — And it had wept its loneliness: —
But as I gaz'd unto the deep blue heaven,
It smil'd so placidly and so serene,
It had been sin to murmur; for I knew
That She above that living azure dwelt,
In joys I could not image; and I then
Did meditate on Him who destin'd all things,
And wove the thread of every mortal fate,
And felt it was in mercy. All was good!
Or when He took us to those happier scenes,
Where tears shall be unknown and day or night,
But He himself our sunshine and our joy:
Or when He left us in this world of trial,
And strew'd our path with troubles — that more pure,
More firm our faith and deeper our endurance,
We might turn to Him. — Still his eye was on us
In care and tenderness; — and knowing this
I did unfold my heart to the glad impulse
Of all things round, in peace and thankfulness,
And with hush'd spirit then pursued my way.

I T was a summer's day, and the warm air
Was glowing in my frame; all things around
With heat, and youth, and joy were animate;
The very breeze was loaded with the hum
Of happy myriads, on their light blue wings,
Exhaling their glad being, eagerly
Sipping heaven's nectar from the opening flowers.
The little vetch, with its deep purple bloom
And slender stalk; the bright convolvulus
With canopy of blue and fragile frame,
Clinging around for succour; the low daisy,
With little buds up peeping, blossom'd round
In wild luxuriance. On the ground I lay,
Musing in that cessation of the thoughts
Which is so sweet and inexpressible,
When new ideas beam upon us, and
The soul is loosen'd from the daily burthen
Of common cares and feelings; — can expand,
Urg'd by its fancy and the blest scenes round,
In waking visions, and unfold its wings.

Over my head the deep embowering trees
Form'd a soft shade: — with venerable trunks
And richly loaded boughs impending round. —
The dark green wood shone brightly beautiful,
And lighter trees in many a graceful group,
Met my eyes wandering, and inspir'd my touch:
And there were forms mov'd round me — forms I lov'd,
Of whom I could not recollect the day
When first I knew them; — who in infancy
Had been my playmates — in all little sports
Welcome companions. Many a summer sun
And winter evening we beguil'd together;
And when the spirit of our childhood fled,
And riper years and deeper cares came on,
Youth found us friends, and with more thoughtful love
Endear'd us to each other. Were all there? —
Did not my eye want one accustom'd smile?
Did not my heart own one sad vacancy?
Ah yes! — And it had wept its loneliness: —
But as I gaz'd unto the deep blue heaven,
It smil'd so placidly and so serene,
It had been sin to murmur; for I knew
That She above that living azure dwelt,
In joys I could not image; and I then
Did meditate on Him who destin'd all things,
And wove the thread of every mortal fate,
And felt it was in mercy. All was good!
Or when He took us to those happier scenes,
Where tears shall be unknown and day or night,
But He himself our sunshine and our joy:
Or when He left us in this world of trial,
And strew'd our path with troubles — that more pure,
More firm our faith and deeper our endurance,
We might turn to Him. — Still his eye was on us
In care and tenderness; — and knowing this
I did unfold my heart to the glad impulse
Of all things round, in peace and thankfulness,
And with hush'd spirit then pursued my way.