Poems (Baldwyn)/Similitudes in Nature

by Augusta Baldwyn

SIMILITUDES IN NATURE.

Come, let us stray afar
 Beside the gushing stream:
Soft shines the first bright star,
 Like hope in love's sweet dream.
The mellow light is fading
 From the waving woods away,
And the rustling boughs are shading
 The lone paths where we stray.

The golden hues of even,
 Whose rich refulgence cast
Such glory o'er the heaven,
 How swiftly are they past!
Oh, may our happy feelings
 Be never shaded o'er;
But we may find revealings
 Of our fates upon the shore.

The varied earth, stars, skies,
 Our destinies can tell:
The secret in a flower lies,
 Could we but read it well.
Who would try the magic art,
 When e'en the bud that blows
Speaks of the lonely breaking heart,—
 The summer's last sweet rose.

Who would doubt of holy love,
 Or name it but a dream?
The light that shines in heaven above
 Is mirror'd in the stream.
Wildly breaks the foaming sea
 O'er rocky cliffs in vain;
Great life's trials all may be,
 Yet break they friendship's chain?

These "everlasting hills" arise
 Like green encircling walls;
Serene and cloudless are the skies,
 While scarce a zephyr hills.
They speak of home and soft repose,
 And of the heavenly rest
Where "not a wave of sorrow flows
 Across the peaceful breast."

In beauteous nature not in vain
 A harmony is found;
By sympathy it strikes "the chain
 Wherewith we're darkly bound."
To those who love, or deeply feel,
 The poet's powers are given;
All bliss and beauty they reveal,
 And upward point to heaven.