While happy in my father's bower, Thou shalt the blithe memorial be; The fairy sports of infancy, Youth's golden age, and manhood's prime, Home, country, kindred, friends, with thee, I find in this far clime. Thrice welcome, little English flower! The sweet May dews of that fair land, Where Daisies, thick as star-light, stand In every walk! that here may shoot Thy scions, and thy buds expand, A hundred from one root. Thrice welcome, little English flower! I'll call to mind, how, fresh and green, I saw thee waking from the dust; Then turn to heaven with brow serene, And place in God my trust. THE DROUGHT. Written in the summer of 1826. Hosea, ii. 21, 22. WHAT strange, what fearful thing hath come to pass? The timely Fruits implore their parent Earth, The Clouds invoke the Heavens,-" Collect, dispense Through us your quickening, healing influence;" The Heavens to Him that made them raise their moan, "Command thy blessing, and it shall be done :" The Lord is in his temple; hush'd and still, The suppliant Universe awaits his will. He speaks; and to the Clouds the Heavens dispense, With lightning-speed, their genial influence; The gathering, breaking Clouds pour down their rains, Earth drinks the bliss through all her eager veins; All Nature's voices blend in one great voice, 66 Glory to God, who thus Himself makes known !" When shall all tongues confess Him God alone? Lord, as the rain comes down from Heaven; the rain, Which waters Earth, nor thence returns in vain, And fill Earth's dreariest wilderness with flowers, With flowers of promise fill the world, within Man's heart, laid waste and desolate by sin; Where thorns and thistles curse the infested ground, Let the rich fruits of righteousness abound; And trees of life, for ever fresh and green, Flourish where trees of death alone have been; Let Truth look down from heaven, Hope soar above, Justice and Mercy kiss, Faith work by Love; The Ransom'd of the Lord with songs return; |