WHO ARE THE LIVING OF THE EARTH? JOHN MILLS. FROM THE FESTIVE WREATH," 1842. WHO are the living of the earth? Not they that creep, like slugs, from birth To roam amid all glorious things; Mingle their eternities. Mark him on yon promontory Fledging his vision for flight of glory; For, oh, what a beautiful world is ours, Bright waters, green meadows, and twilight bowers! And seen by the youth from his mountain-peak, They sleep on the plain so bland and meek ; The blue sky kissing the ocean white, Dim on the outer verge of sight; The city's pride of spires and domes; Mark the same mute, earnest form, His spirit is blent with the tempest strife.- Who are the living of the earth? The bubbles of passion and joyless mirth Above the oblivious maw of death? A nobler tale hath every age, Of bard, and orator, and sage Immortal. Oh, thou old Greek glory,` Twins in weakness and in might ! What power thus wraps the mighty heart Which quells all meaner lives and fames? Blooming by the stream eternal, Whose waters zone the earth, that we While from their fringed verge we cull And the world hath yet some nobly great, A glorious dower is yours, as well From depths of thought and heights of dream Emotions and imaginings, And ye scoop the leaping waves among, To freshen the world with the dews of song. Earth's glow and burnish in your eyes, Ye gaze upon a paradise: For you the day hath a radiant car, And steeds of fire, which shower afar, From their burning hoofs, our golden light: Puts on her sable stole and smiles, While the pale Queen-moon and the starry isles Are the flowers fair in their dewy dreaming? FRIENDS. JAMES MONTGOMERY. FRIEND after friend departs; Who hath not lost a friend? There is no union here of hearts |