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

SPEECH OF ME-TEY-A. 293
Might heart of love or tongue
of fire
Prevail aggression's hand to stay
Where proudly points yon glittering spire,
Had been thy People's home to-day ;
Where flaming meteors, glaring red,
Fright all the plain with hurrying din,
Had lightly woke thy children's tread,
Their cheerful Home-fire bright had been.
Or where the springs of Kankakee
The grassy meadows interlace,
Might, as of old, securely be
Thy lowly People's dwelling place.
Of what avail these tears that flow,
More than availed thy mournful "Nay ?"-
Thy latest kinsman long ago
Went sorrowing on afar away.