Oh! mark yon drooping form, of aged mien, Wan, yet resign’d, and hopeless, yet serene! Long ere victorious time had sought to chase The bloom, the smile, that once illumed his face, That faded eye was dimm’d with many a care, Those waving locks were silver’d by despair! Yet filial love can pour the sovereign balm, Assuage his pangs, his wounded spirit calm! He, a sad emigrant! condemn’d to roam In life’s pale autumn from his ruin’d home, Has borne the shock of Peril’s darkest wave, Where joy--and hope--and fortune--found a grave! ’Twas his to see Destruction’s fiercest band Rush, like a Typhon, on his native land, And roll triumphant on their blasted way, In fire and blood, the deluge of dismay! Unequal combat raged on many a plain, And patriot-valour waved the sword in vain! Ah! gallant exile! nobly, long, he bled, Long braved the tempest gathering o’er his head! Till all was lost! and horror’s darken’d eye Roused the stern spirit of despair to die! Ah! gallant exile! in the storm that roll’d Far o’er his country, rushing uncontroll’d, The flowers that graced his path with loveliest bloom, Torn by the blast, were scatter’d on the tomb! When carnage burst, exulting in the strife, The bosom ties that bound his soul to life, Yet one was spared! and she, whose filial smile Can soothe his wanderings and his tears beguile, E’en _then_ could temper, with divine relief, The wild delirium of unbounded grief; And, whispering peace, conceal with duteous art Her own deep sorrows in her inmost heart! And now, though time, subduing every trace, Has _mellow’d_ all, he _never_ can _erase_; Oft will the wanderer’s tears in silence flow, Still sadly faithful to remember’d woe! Then she, who feels a father’s pang alone, (Still fondly struggling to suppress her own,) With anxious tenderness is ever nigh, To chase the image that awakes the sigh! Her angel-voice his fainting soul can raise To brighter visions of celestial days! And speak of realms, where Virtue’s wing shall soar On eagle-plume--to wonder and adore; And friends, divided here, shall meet at last, Unite their kindred souls--and smile on all the past! Yes! we may hope that nature’s deathless ties, Renew’d, refined, shall triumph in the skies! Heart-soothing thought! whose loved, consoling powers With seraph-dreams can gild reflection’s hours, Oh! still be near, and brightening through the gloom, Beam and ascend! the day-star of the tomb! And smile for those, in sternest ordeals proved, Those lonely hearts, bereft of all they loved.