O beautiful! from starry steeps
A blooming face upon us turns
Her eyes, dark-splendid, like the deeps
Of midnight where Orion burns.
A queenly form, a face like this
Went out beyond our earthly dawn,
As if, into the blue abyss,
The day-star were at once withdrawn.
We loved, but could not hold her back;
She gave us more than even we know;
The’ All-Father’s child, no heart should lack
The love He gave her to bestow.
Her spring of bounty never failed
To pining want or moaning pain;
Where women wept or childhood wailed,
It poured, impartial as the rain.
In stateliest home, or lowliest cot,
Her presence shone with equal cheer;
If proud, the humblest felt it not,
If meek, the proudest knew their peer.
Geo. S. Burleigh.
June 6, 1888.
