Section 8

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 115
In sweetest harmony of tone,
Without control ;
Wand'ring alone,
O'er balmy meads, Where showers of summer dew, Fall down like silver beads ; 'JN'eath which the violets blue.
Like angels' eyes, Reflect the dewy radiance of the skies ;
With sad sweet joy, Shrined in my heart dost thou my secret thoughts employ. Or when night's stillnesses prevail. Dim spectral forms in shadows pale. Flit through the pleasant gloom ; While soft the locust's bloom. Upon the night breeze flings, A breath of painful sweetness, Like the memory of things. On the waves of Time departed ; And in their fleetness.
Sometimes come. With yearning dreams of home, And haunt the broken hearted. Thus oft I think of thee. My soul's bright sanctuary. And when the gentle moon. Throughout night's quiet noon, Along the Ithureal plain
116 MRS. munday's poems.
Doth lead her shining train,
Of stairy sisterhood ; While glittering round a flood,
Of radient light, Lays like a robe about the queen of night. The spirit-flame then more serenely burns ; More fo.ndly then the tender bosom yearns,
For loved ones gone.
Or absent friends : — 'Tis then thy spirit's tone, A sweet enchantment lends.
To memory's ear, Profound — and full — and clear. And oh ! how oft, sweet orb, In childhood's elfin hour, Thou did'st with mystic power, My infant mind absorb. Thus gazing oft on thee. Thou seem'st a beauteous mystery ; And I did sometimes deem. Thou wert a spirit's dream, — Or soul of bright Evangel, —
Or alien angel, By powers supernal doomed ;
When Eden fair, In pristine beauty bloom'd ; — In pale and mute despair. To wend thy silent way ; With no responsive beam — no self-resembling ray.
MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 117
Musing alone I sit,
While through the night halls lit,
With angels' eyes ;
Some spirit sighs, Upon the perfumed air — Like some lone string. In love-tones whispering, Of joyance deep and visions fair ; Is it thy soul's deep voice, That bids mine own rejoice ? — Is it thy spirit's ray,
That from afar ; Bends o'er my twilight way, A lone and guiding star ? — And will thy soul upon that shore divine, Yet know and speak to mine ? Oh ! will these raptures spirit-born, Illume the soul upon that glorious morn ? And shall these joys there be complete ? Or is it but a passing gleam ?
And brief as sweet, —
A thought — a dream—
The spirit of a spell, That in my bosom's infinite must dwell ? Again I bend mine ear. To catch those seraph w^hispers dear ; While through the still profound. No murmur wakes around ; Save in the vale remote.
118
MRS. MUNDAys POEMS.
/
Sad philomelas lonesome note,
With ceaseless woe, Floats on ^olean whispers low. Now comes a dream of tender memories o'er me, When wrapt in silken bonds of spirit sympathy, United oft in by-gone hours, 'Neath Silvia's pleasant bowers. Together we have sought, The fane of deathless thought.
The time is past —
Those joys are flown ; While on Life's changing surges vast. Afar from me thy bark floats on — While like a bird that's on the wing, 'Tis mine in other bowers to sing.
Or sad or gay. My gothic roundelay ; But, Theon, when upon thy way. Thou seek'st some spirit's kindred ray. Then cast a lingering look behind, And think of one whose soul and mind. To thee will like the magnet turn, And oft with tearful vision yearn. For that sweet converse of the soul. Which then was often ours.
Without control. In summer evening's pleasant hours ; And may the memory of those days. Float round thy heart like ruby rays,
MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 119
Of sundown glories ; And as thy mind oft backward flees, From present care to some bright spot ;
Then turn again,
To Friendship's fane.
Forget it not.
SONGS OF WAR.
No. 1. The Departure.
All are gone forth — and of that all, how few, Perhaps return. Sardanapalttt,
There is a radient land of balmy winds. Of cloudless climes, mild seas, and starry skies, Where Pleasure's syrens oft the wand'rer binds. And from sweet lips, and lutes low music sighs, And o'er the pine clad hills the echo dies Of sparkling streams — that cnime thro' orange bow'rs, And tamarind trellis'd vales, where blooming lies Tbe prairies wealth of rainbow-tinted flowers, Fair smiling chil'ren these, of genial skies and golden hours.
Hark ! — that pealing sound ! — 'tis the shrill trumpet's
note, The forest-hills, and peaceful vales along — And wild alarums on the rent air float ; War's tocsin rolls — the northern hills prolong The startling sound — the sword unsheath, be strong — Our country calls — " To Arms!" — young soldcer. rise— " Away " — thro' hall or bow'r, where Hope's bland
song Had whispered Paphean joys, the dread war-cries, O'er the broad land resounds, and through the bending
skies.
(121)
122
MRS. MUNDAT\S POEMS.
We saw in pride depart, that battle host ; The good, the brave, the gen'rous and the true ; The old, the young — aye ! those we lov'd the most ; We felt their warm hands' clasp, and beard their last
adieu. Oh ! who can tell if o'er the sad eyes' hue, Would ever steal the tears of joy at their return t In dreams we see them yet — their shad'wy forms
pursue — Say is it vain for them that our hearts burn- Will they not heave a sigh, and for their bright homes
yearn ?
Oh! there were partings dread, young cheeks grevr
pale. And long adieus were told with streaming eyes ; And there were ringing hands, and many a wail — Low faltering words — and tearful sobs — and sighs, From woman's heart, with childhood's shrieking cries, Burst forth. — The low winds rose with gentle swell, And bore the wail alon2; the tranquil skies. Till soft and low the mournful cadence fell. Blending and dying with the sound — Farewell !
=dJ
SONGS OF WAR. 123
No. 2. The March.
I knew 'twas a trumpet's note,
And I see my brethren's lances gleam ;
And their pennons wave by the mountain stream,
And their plumes to glad winds float. — Hcmans.
I dwelt in a grand old home, whose sea-girt walls
Rose like some tower of olden time ;
Columns of marble strength adorn 'd its halls,
While perfum'd light, with music circean chime,
Stole up midst rosy lamps and forms sublime,
Of alabaster mould ; and the low sound
Of martial strains, blent with the ocean's hymn ;
As on the frowning rocks grey, cold and ivy-crown'd
The wild waves roar'd with fearful bound.
The pale round moon wept down her silver light,
Where slept an army's strength all hush'd and still :
And the sentry lone, with bayonet bright.
Still kept his weary watch — while cold and chill,
The wet dews hung o'er tent and vale and hill,
Whije far thro' chap'rell groves, the watch-dog bay'd
The wolf; — where wrapt in past or future ill.
By Nuces' falling floods, 'neath the palm-tree's shade,
With folded arms in gloom some lone Camanche stray'd.
Hush'd was the night, and calm the sky-lit bay ; The drill was done — the song, the dance was o'et.
124 MRS. munday's poems.
Upon the shad'wy wave in mute array, The starry host look'd down — and near the shore, A thousand masts reposed — the flashing oar JfJo murmurs woke — and loos'd the white sails hung; While through the dreamy vales and blue seas o'er, The incense-breathing airs their odors flung — Oh ! fairest land that ever patriot loved, or poet sung.
But hark ! — is that the sound of seas I hear ? —
Or trump and prancing steed and reveille drum ? —
That rous'd from flaming dreams of sword and spear,
The slumbering soldier ? — Lo ! where in terror dumb.
The foe retires — our arm'd legions come !
With banners proud and streaming pennons white.
And hurried steed — car— mortar and bomb ;
While their lances gleam in the rosy light,
Like stars that dance on the glittering seas at night.
Like the phantom forms of a warrior's dream. In martial pride our wheeling squadrons pass ; O'er scorching plains, wild hills, and rocky streams, Through tangled beds of cactus green, or dark morass j There the spotted snake in the tall rank grass. With deadly fangs in fearful beauty lies. But where are they — that army vast f — Alas ! The proud hills rise between, e'er the crimson dies Of early Hesperus fades from eastern skies.
SONGS OF WAR. 125
No. 3.
RioGrande.
The battle gathers like a storm. Soon shall ye hear the roar of death. — Oi>sia7i.
Look ! where upon the seas the tow'ring masts, UnfurPd their banners to the low winds bland,
Where throng'd the shores two armies vast ;
And the dark waters of the Rio Grande,
Boom'd thro' the hills, while far along the strand.
In must'ring troops our fierce battalion flew ;
Grimly the war-god smil'd — o'er the hot sand.
Dread carnao;e stalk'd. Ah ! there were those who
drew,
E'en from their death-pangs, inspiration new.
And there were those whose every thought,
Of grief, or joy, or wish that life inspired ;
Or hope sublime, from glory's throbbings caught,
Or deed of good, or ill, or aught the soul desired,
In one dread moment rush'd — and wildly fir'd
The glazing eye. — And there was one who bleeding lay,
Whose thoughts of home in one deep sigh expired ;
While by his native streams, unconscious play
His orphan children — and the lone mother kneels to
pray- That Ac, their dying sire, might yet return. Still from affections cells no tearful lavas gush'd,
126 MRS. MUNDAY'S POEMS.
Although with seas of grief his dim brain burn'd ; But all at once as from that proud heart, crushed, The crimson life-stream flow'd — the moan was hush'd- The spirit-flame expir'd. — There is a goal Where the brave triumph, thither hath he rush'd, Beyond where the dark waters of oblivion roll, On deathless wings — thence flew the lightning soul.
And moans and shrieks, and curses of despair, With shouts and savage yells, and piercing cries, Along the squadrons rent the scorching air, — And many a glance from dying eyes, W^ould seem to say that on their native skies, They fain would look once more, until afar, The din of arms, upon his faint ear dies — While wringing lance — flying steed and rolling car, Blend with the thunders and the storm of war.
SOINGS OF WAR. 127
No. 4. I-ALG Alto
As a hundred winds in Loclilin's groves— As fire ia the pines of a hundred hills— so loud — ^ So ruinous— so vast — the ranks of men hewn down. Farewell! — thou bravest ol men ! thou conqueror In the field ! — But the field shall see thee no more — Nor the dark wood be lighted with the splendor Ot thy steel. — Thou hast left no son. — Future Time shall hear of thee — and the song shall Preserve thy name. — Ossian.
And here o'er Palo Alto's crimson plains, Now let us pause ; — O ! muse of tiagic song — And o'er the brave — the lov'd — the early slain— Awake the lyre — in tears the strain prolong. Who with the brave the lurid field along, Can fill thy place, O Chief in war ? — Who dare What ne'er thine eagle eye or spirit strong Could tame ? — Who cope with thee in battle's glare .^— Save he, the bold Dragoon of flaming sword and streaming hair.
There amid the lightning flash of steel,
And the deep booming of artillery,
Where long and loudest was the deafning peal
Of the dark war-storm and wing'd victories.
On chariot-wheels roU'd through the flashing sea,^
Of blood and fiery deaths — a mighty star —
Went out from war's red firmament — he
That fought with^the proudest steed and flying car,
128 MRS. munday's poems.
The laurel'd Chief, far famed in Seminola's war.
He fell ! — But why, or wherefore, who can tell ?
Time, the destroyer, in his deathward course,
Yields no reply — but onward sweeps to swell
The gulph of ruin. — Yes, rider and horse
Have fall'n — and bravely, too — without remorse ;
For when he felt away the life-drops run.
Nor did his spirit lose its fire or force ;
But as he fainting fell, still shouted " on !"
And " on !" — nor reck'd he of the fame he lost or won.
And there, all agonized, was prostrate seen,
Bleeding and spent, his proud war steed,
(The princely gift of Britain's haughty Queen ;)
Who once with eye of fire and hoof of speed.
Nor foe — nor flame — nor battle's roar did heed;
But onward rush'd, amid the stern array
Of war, to peril's gaping jaws and war-like deeds,
And foremost fell — biting the earth whereon he lay,
While fast in crimson tides his proud life ebb'd away
Where the dark waters of the Rio Grande, Respond in music to the sounding shore ; Where fond familiar eyes, or voices bland. Of those he lov'd shall greet him never more, The warrior sleep's — and glory's dream is o'er. Brave Ringgold, fare thee ivell ! — here must we part. We mourn — but tears will not the dead restore.
SONGS OF WAR. 129
Yet nought shall 'rase thy deeds from battle's tragic
chart. Or blot thy memory from a nation's weeping heart. ^
No. 5.
* * * * Against some storm, We often see a silence in the heavens, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below, As hush as death. — Otway. .
There came a pause — and from the flaming field,
Belowna's car retir'd — the ocean rush
Of gathering hosts and steeds had ceas'd — nor peal'd
The deep mouth 'd cannon's voice again ; — a hush,
Like that of death, dwelt where the lava gush
Of many lives went out. Oh ! strong the chain
That could those proud souls bind, or brave hearts
crush. While music far along the sounding plain Awakes — and wildly peals in peans o'er the slain.
(B)
NOTES TO MEXICAN WAR SONGS.
The fore "-oino- poem wa^ su?p;esteii and written at the com- mencem»nt"if the war between the United Stat»^a and Mexico ; but at the fitth number a temporary cessation of hostilities took place, when they were laid aside with the view of bem": again re?umed and concluded, as the circumstances and progress ot the war should suggest. Since which period the health ot the anthore&s has been so sadly on the decline, that she abandoned the idea of writing little else than short poems or stanzas, merely to beguile a few invalid hours— hence the abrupt discon- tinuation of me Mexican War Songs.
JSTote 1— J\'o. 4, verse \st.
" Who with the brave the lurid fields along, Can fill thy place, 0 Chief in war? &c.''
Comparative allusions to Col. May and Maj. Ringgold.
JVote 2 — JVo. 4, verse 1st.
" Save he, the bold Dragoon of flaming sword and streaming hair."
Never shall I forget the picture presented to my eye in the etately person of Col. May, mounted on his coal black charger, and, unlike E. P. R. James' solitary horseman, went flying like a phantom over the chaparrell hills, while his wealth of long sunny hair floated like a banner in the wind.
JVote 3 — JVo. 4, verse 2d.
"That fought with the proudest steed and flying car, The laurel'd Chief, far famed in Seminola's war."
Alluding to the victories achieved in the border wars of Florida with the Seminoles.
(131)
132 ' MRS. Monday's poems.
J^ote 4 — JVb. 4, verse Ath.
The gallant liorsemansbip of Maj. TJinjrgoltl, f nd the beauty of bis noble steed, elicited my admiration; whereupon I was informed by an officer at my side, that the animal was presented by Queen Victoria to the Major, during his sojourn in Europe. I have never received any further authority on this subject.
JVote 5 — JVo 4, verse 5th. " Where the dark waters of the Rio Grande."
Since the publication of this poem, the remains of this gallant .yfficer have been removed from the Rio Grande to Hagarstown, Maryland.
SONNETS AND SONGS.
Song of the Flowers.
The following fanciful little effusion was suggested to the authoress in a dream.
There's wit in flowers, if we've the wit to gather it. — Shakespear.
From the morning skies and the sunset's dyes,
We've borrow 'd our blushing hues*, Here the butter-fly dips its hyblied lips,
Then its cloud-ward course pursues.
'Tis the star-rays bright, and the moon's pale light,,
And the burning sun by day ; The gentle showers in spring-time hours.
And the dews that vanish away —
That to us bring, while the free birds sing,
Our colorings rich and fair ; From our glowing vases the hum-bird chases^
The insect tribes of air.
With rainbow wings the dewlet springs.
From our emerald leaflets gay ; And the zephyr's breath, fiir o'er the heath,
Our odors beareth away. (133)
134 MRS. munday's poems*
Our tinted bowl, is the secret goal, Where fairies love to dwell ;
Our leaves they fold, and o'er us hold, By night, their charmed spell.
Oh ! lady fair, weVe perfumes rare
In silence floating on — Like morning beams, on chiming streams,
Our lives will soon be gone.