To Wordsworth
Thy rise was as the morning, glorious, bright!
And Error vanished like the affrighted dark;
While many a soul, as the aspiring lark,
Waked by thy dawn soared singing to the light,
Drowning in gladdest song the earth’s despite!
And Beauty blossomed in all lowly nooks:
Love, like a river made of nameless brooks,
Grew and exulted in thy wakening sight:
All nature hailed thee as a risen sun;
Nor will thy setting blur her thankful eyes!
While earth remains thy day shall not be done,
Nor cloud dispread to blot thy matchless skies; -
When Death’s command, like Joshua’s, shall arise,
Thou ‘lt stand as stood the Sun of Gibeon.
Thy rise was as the morning, glorious, bright!
And Error vanished like the affrighted dark;
While many a soul, as the aspiring lark,
Waked by thy dawn soared singing to the light,
Drowning in gladdest song the earth’s despite!
And Beauty blossomed in all lowly nooks:
Love, like a river made of nameless brooks,
Grew and exulted in thy wakening sight:
All nature hailed thee as a risen sun;
Nor will thy setting blur her thankful eyes!
While earth remains thy day shall not be done,
Nor cloud dispread to blot thy matchless skies; -
When Death’s command, like Joshua’s, shall arise,
Thou ‘lt stand as stood the Sun of Gibeon.