THE YELLOW VIOLET. WHEN beechen buds begin to swell, Peeps from the last year's leaves below. Ere russet fields their green resume, Of all her train, the hands of Spring Beside the snow-bank's edges cold. Thy parent sun, who bade thee view Pale skies, and chilling moisture sip, Has bathed thee in his own bright hue, And streaked with jet thy glowing lip. Yet slight thy form, and low thy seat, Unapt the passing view to meet, When loftier flowers are flaunting nigh. 230 THE YELLOW VIOLET. Oft, in the sunless April day, Thy early smile has stayed my walk, So they, who climb to wealth, forget That I should ape the ways of pride. And when again the genial hour "I CANNOT FORGET WITH WHAT FERVID DEVOTION." I CANNOT forget with what fervid devotion I worshipped the visions of verse and of fame: Each gaze at the glories of earth, sky, and ocean, To my kindled emotions, was wind over flame. And deep were my musings in life's early blossom, 'Mid the twilight of mountain groves wandering long; How thrilled my young veins, and how throbbed my full bosom, When o'er me descended the spirit of song. 'Mong the deep-cloven fells that for ages had listened Till I felt the dark power o'er my reveries stealing, 232 I CANNOT FORGET, ETC. Bright visions! I mixed with the world and ye faded; No longer your pure rural worshipper now; In the old mossy groves on the breast of the mountain, Oh, leave not, forlorn and for ever forsaken, The glories ye showed to his earlier years. LINES ON REVISITING THE COUNTRY. I STAND upon my native hills again, Broad, round, and green, that in the summer sky With garniture of waving grass and grain, Orchards, and beechen forests, basking lie, While deep the sunless glens are scooped between, A lisping voice and glancing eyes are near, For I have taught her, with delighted eye, And clouds along its blue abysses rolled, Here, I have 'scaped the city's stifling heat, |