CREATION.
"Let there be light!" and Chaos fled
Back to his midnight cell,
And light, the earliest gift of Heaven,
On cradled nature fell.
Earth from the encroaching waters rose,
Strong Ocean knew his place,
Bold rivers forced their unknown way,
Young streams began their race.
Forth came the Sun, that monarch-proud,
And at his genial rays,
The springing groves, and pencilled flowers
Put on new robes of praise.
But when his weary couch he sought,
Behold the regent-Queen,
Enthroned on silver car, pursued
Her nightly course serene.
And glorious shone the arch of Heaven
With stars serenely bright,
That bowed to every passing cloud
Their coronets of light.
Life roamed along the verdant mead,
Life glided through the flood,
And tuneful 'mid the woven boughs
Watched o'er the nesting brood.
