Thomas Aird

Oh rise, and sit in soft attire!
Wait but to know my soul's desire!
I'd call thee back to earthly days,
To cheer thee in a thousand ways!…

Yon ridge of trees against the frosty east
Of Morn, how thin, how fine, how spiritualised
Their fringe of naked branches, and of twigs,
Distinct, though multitudinous and small!…

His soul was truth severe: The shafts of day
Strike through the vague delusions of the night;
So, arrowy keen was his assault of light,
The “Idols of the Den,” to pierce them, pierce and slay.…

Yon Alp, he lifts his snowy horn
To catch the virgin rose of morn.Clouds in towering tumult loom:
Sunny onsets dash the gloom;
Bold burly March, he laughs to do it;…

IFar through the snows of winter come
To share his widowed Grannie's home,
The Orphan Boy lays down his head
Weary on his little bed.…

“Our rhythmic armies, lifted whole,
Heaved, whelm and awe;
True to harmonious law,
Peace, thy consummate works spring from the plastic soul.”…

'Twas midnight hour—in that deep hour
Proud lights were up in Babylon;
Each palace-hall was pleasure's bower,
Yet sat the king as if alone:…

Hearts fail when Winter roars
On the blown seas.Red blood for pale! Spring pours
Green gladness through her luminous trees.The bee has wet his happy horn.
Cloudlet of the silver edges,…

High stood (he sang) the Sons of Light,
Exultant o'er our wondrous birth.
And through the alternate day and night
Whirled the glimmering ball of earth.Eden the Blest! Ah, Sin is Wrath,—…

Thou, the King of kingdoms great,
Thou, the Consort of his state,
Ye have eaten Heavenly food,
Jesus' body, Jesus' blood;…

The lights of joy at midnight hour
Were up in ancient Babylon.
Beauty and Pleasure, Pride and Power,
Were gathered round Belshazzar's Throne.…

Life to the kosmic ages! Lyre,
Burst in blessing, high and higher,
Still to Him, all to Him,
Throned above the cherubim,…

Beyond the north where Ural hills from polar tempests run,
A glow went forth at midnight hour as of unwonted sun;
Upon the north at midnight hour a mighty noise was heard,
As if with all his trampling waves the Ocean were unbarred;…

At times a bird slides through the glossy air,
O'er the enamelled woodlands; but no chirp
Of song is heard: all's dumb and panting heat.
How waste and idle are yon river sands,…

“Come near, my child!” the dying father said.
Life's twilight dews lay heavy on his brow.
How softly o'er him did that daughter bow!
She wiped those dews away, she raised his drooping head.…

Sing, woodland Muse, Frank Sylvan, brave old buck!
In nankeens, he, white stockings, waistcoat white,
Green coat, and linen of the amplest cut,
White as the snow, tied by a ribbon black…

The Patriarch mild, who mused at evening-tide,
Saw blessings come: they who with ordered feet
Go forth like him, their blessings too shall meet,—
Beauty, and Grace, and Peace, harmonious side by side;…

Skirts of sunny-sifted showers!
There the wild bee,
How privileged he,
Childe of the yellow belt and bands of jet,…

Blue breathing Night, down from her styptick noon,
Makes her young ice; the pools all plated gleam.
Bold speed defies her: down the dashing stream
Flashes the shattered moon.Cunning pipe of liquid sweetness!…

The beetling shore he roamed,
Black-bitten, honeycombed.
High on the ness he watched the press
Of mystery in the coming waves;…

Day far into the west is gone:
Weary the Beggar wanders on,—
On where the infant river gushes
The dreary fruitless moorlands through,And o'er the necks o' the sighing rushes…

Hope, with eyes of sunny seed,
Smile thee on to power and deed,
Champion, who the sword dost draw
For Order, Liberty, and Law.…

Storm in his blackness forth
Hangs on the suffering north.
Wide go his wings, away he springs,
Far back the tumult of his hair he flings,…

Drear, at the droop of day,
The nettle-wands, all wintry bare,
Sigh in our kirkyard old and lone!
That bowing stranger gray,…