| |
| “I HEAR thee speak of the better land, | |
| Thou call’st its children a happy band | |
| Mother! oh, where is that radiant shore? | |
| Shall we not seek it, and weep no more? | |
| Is it where the flower of the orange blows, | 5 |
| And the fire-flies glance thro’ the myrtle boughs?” | |
| “—Not there, not there, my child!” | |
| |
| “Is it where the feathery palm-trees rise, | |
| And the date grows ripe under sunny skies? | |
| Or midst the green islands of glittering seas, | 10 |
| Where fragrant forests perfume the breeze, | |
| And strange bright birds on their starry wings | |
| Bear the rich hues of all glorious things?” | |
| “—Not there, not there, my child!” | |
| |
| “Is it far away, in some region old, | 15 |
| Where the rivers wander o’er sands of gold, | |
| Where the burning rays of the ruby shine, | |
| And the diamond lights up the secret mine, | |
| And the pearl gleams forth from the coral strand? | |
| Is it there, sweet mother! that better land?” | 20 |
| “—Not there, not there, my child!” | |
| |
| “Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy! | |
| Ear hath not heard its deep songs of joy! | |
| Dreams cannot picture a world so fair— | |
| Sorrow and death may not enter there: | 25 |
| Time doth not breathe on its fadeless bloom | |
| For beyond the clouds and beyond the tomb, | |
| —It is there, it is there, my child!” | |
| |
