Through purple haze of evening mountain mist, A spiral thread of dark blue smoke arose From hidden cove and rugged steep defile; While like a ball of blood o'er some far magic isle, The sun a moment hung in deep repose, Above a placid sea of amethyst, In mystic prophecy of death and doom,-- Then dropped and splashed the sky with crimson spray and spume! EYES DIVINE His eyes divine were shot with light Like flashes in a northern night, Magnetic gleam that wrought a spell On whom its star-like shimmer fell-- A spell of wonder and delight;-- Enchantment such as gods excite With glowing depths of chrysolite, Or blooming beds of asphodel-- His eyes divine! In metaphysics recondite, In realms of verse by royal right Of Genevieve and Christabel The first upon the mystic shell; And yet his greatest charm and might Were eyes divine! JACK FROST In a pixy chariot, drawn, Not by deer, but elfin fawn, Thou hast come, Jack Frost and gone. Silently, unheralded, O'er the earth thy chariot sped; Dear Jack Frost, where hast thou fled? Thou the child's and poet's friend, Brings't us blessings without end, Joys the world can not transcend. Naught but beauty now remains-- Flowers, ferns and fairy fanes, Wrought upon the window panes; Fields and forests all aglow,-- Colors only thou dost know: How the heart doth overflow! Purple clusters thine and mine, Winter-wild and muscadine, Bursting with the wine of vine! Haws, persimmons, berries red, Nuts the earth have overspread-- Dear Jack Frost, why hast thou fled? Old Chris we hail with all his boast, His jolly fun and merry cost, But oh, we love Jack Frost, Jack Frost! AD AQUILAM "Bird of the broad and sweeping wing," O bird of whom the poets sing, O emblem of the noblest thing Of which mankind can boast! Didst thou but know thy image decked That which commands the world's respect, And makes kings kneel as slaves abject To it, their god, almost: Then thou wouldst soar to greater height Than e'er attained by birds of flight, To show the eagle's power and might, With wings unfurled and stiff; And at that dizzy height survey The sea and land without dismay, Till weary, sink at close of day Upon thy mountain cliff: And there secure from all the world, Nestle, with plumed wings closely furled That sustained thee and o'er earth whirled Thee with a haughty air. Ambitions would disturb thy dreams, The night air shudder with thy screams, And like the human soul that teems With vain-glorious care,