Poems (Taggart)/Health

by Cynthia Taggart

HEALTH. 1823.

When from the fair and verdant fields
 Her breath salubrious blows,
Then Health her choicest blessing yields,
 And peaceful pleasure flows.

Far as the breezes fan the air,
 Her gentle influence flies,
When o'er the wakening hemisphere
 The charms of morning rise.

Fresh odors forth exhaling pour
 And every breath is balm;
The air wafts kisses to the rose,
And o'er the humble wildling flows,
 And owns each fragrant charm.

And when bright Phoebus' beaming smile
Decoys the dew-drops from the lawn,
Then calmly speed the flowing hours,
And Hope relumes the mental powers,—
 On gilded pinions borne.

Can aught be brighter than the ray
That bears the orient smile of day,
When the first beams of sunlight play
 On dew-bespangled flowers?
The soul domestic peace employs
With sweet affection's lovelier joys.

And when the day's declining hour
Invites you to the woodland bower,
 Where bending osiers wave,
And near the mossy hillock's side
The gently rippling waters glide,
 And the green margin lave,
 Then 'neath the shades with dulcet song
Will Youth her pleasures sweet prolong.

And when sere Autumn's sallow leaves
 Fly from the bending tree,
And, low and sad, the dull wind grieves
 Along the fading lea,
Though vernal green and summer's tints
 And beauteous blooms decay,
Still hovering o'er the changing hues,
 Content's soft numbers play.