The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

HAYO-WENT-HA'S DEPARTURE. 213
A song, like the Immortal's song,
Now thrills each lowly, aching breast,
Far-wakes the tranquil shores along,
Lulls the low-lapsing waves to rest ;
Charms all the rapt, enchanted strand,
Soft trembles on the listening sea,
As dwellers in the Shining Land
There woke their joyous minstrelsy.
Now more the shadows deepen down :
On all that sorrow deepens more,
That sweetest music may not drown ;
More faint along the dusky shore,
The voices from the bright Beyond
In wonder-waking song are heard,
More tender than love's yearnings fond,
And sweeter than the song of bird.
Thence had the Shining Spirits come,
Low-wandering from the shores of Dawn,
To bear great Hayo-went-ha home,
From toil and grief of earth withdrawn ;
On airy pinions bear him hence
Above life's weaker part upborne ;
To taste the bliss and recompense
Of Virtue on the Hills of Morn.