Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By Samuel GriswoldGoodrich143 Lake Superior
“F
Beyond the eagle’s utmost view,
When, throned in heaven, he sees thee send
Back to the sky its world of blue.
Their twilight shade thy borders o’er,
And threatening cliffs, like giants, heave
Their rugged forms along thy shore.
With listening ear, in sadness broods;
Or startled echo, o’er thy waves,
Sends the hoarse wolf-notes of thy woods.
Across thy breast like things of air,
Chase from thy lone and level tide
The spell of stillness deepening there.
Unheard, unseen, a spirit lives,
That, breathing o’er each rock and cave,
To all a wild, strange aspect gives.
Its grisly arms athwart the sky,
A sudden, startling image brings
To the lone traveller’s kindled eye.
Their dim forms in the forest shade,
Like wrestling serpents seem, and throw
Fantastic horrors through the glade.
Have caught a strange and gibbering tone;
For they have told the war-whoop o’er,
Till the wild chorus is their own.
Adieu, ye rocks, ye wilds, ye woods!
Roll on, thou element of blue,
And fill these awful solitudes!
God is thy theme. Ye sounding caves,
Whisper of him whose mighty plan
Deems as a bubble all your waves!