| Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829. | | | | Sonnet | | By Thomas Wells |
| | | YE clouds, that in your breasts the tempest bear, | |
| From whose dark folds the nimble lightnings leap; | |
| Tell us, as through the vault of blue ye sweep, | |
| Whence came ye, rolling in your strength, and where | |
| Shadowing the heavens, do you now bend your course? | 5 |
| Shipwreck attends, dread messengers, your path— | |
| The giant forests stoop before your wrath, | |
| And Ocean bends his trident to your force: | |
| Already now your winged bolts of fire | |
| The skies inflame—your pealing thunders roll, | 10 |
| And seem the earth to shake, from pole to pole, | |
| Whilst hail and whirlwind mingle with your ire? | |
| Mortal!—seek not the Eternal to explore,— | |
| We come his errands to fulfil—be silent and adore. | | | | |
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