THE SLEEPING PERI.
Reading edition
LINES SUGGESTED BY PALMER'S STATUE.
Lo! upon the stone reposing, Dewy sleep her eyelids closing, Rests the Fay; Wearily hath the exile wandered, Sadly o'er her sorrow pondered, All the day. Flinty pathways, lone and dreary, Quite unmeet for foot of Peri, Soft and fair;— Heavy air with vapors laden, Shrinking, fragile wings from Aidenn May not dare;— Such the gifts our planet proffers, Such the thorny home she offers Spirits fine: Artists, poets, earthward sent us, Heavenly natures, briefly lent us, Droop like thine! Happy if, amid their dreaming, They can feel the glories streaming From above;— See the light, and hear the flowing, Gushing anthems—melting, glowing Strains of love! Happy Peri! faintly smiling; Quivering lip, the sense beguiling, Dimpled cheek, Form ethereal, heavenly moulded, Shadowing eyelids, soft wings folded Rest to seek,— All betray thee, young immortal, Eden's child, without its portal Doomed to roam! Yet thy spirit sees the glory, Hears entranced the rapturous story Of thy home. Who, O Fay, would dare to wake thee, From ecstatic visions take thee But to weep? Softly dreaming, waking never Till thy dreams are truths forever, Sweetly sleep!