Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/131

MOSES BROOKS. Moses Brooks, for many years an active lawyer in Cincinnati, was born near Owego, New York, on the thirty-first day of October, 1789. His early opportunities of education were limited. In 1811, he became a citizen of Cincinnati. He there studied law, and was admitted to the Bar. In 1830, declining health admonished him to abandon his practice, and he has since been a merchant. He was a contributor to the Western Souvenir, and has written poems and essays for the Ladies^ Repository. In 1811, IMr. Brooks was married to the daughter of Samuel Ransom, of Argehed, New York. AN APOSTROPHE TO A MOUND. Here stood a mound, erected by a race Unknown in history or poet's song, Swept from the earth, nor even left a trace Where the broad ruin rolled its tide along. No hidden chronicle these piles among, Or hieroglyphic monument survives To tell their being's date or whence they sprung — Whether from Gothic Europe's " northern hives," Or that devoted land where the dread siroc drives. Mysterious pile ! say for what designed? Have flaming altars on thy summit shone ? Have victims bled, by pious rites consigned, T' appease the wrath of heaven, and thus atone For sinful man to the eternal throne ? Momentous monitor of mortal woe ! Thou dost proclaim a nation lost, un- known, Smitten from earth by some tremendous blow. Which but a God could give, and but the Omniscient know. Hill of the Lord ! where once perchance of yore. Sincere devotion woke her pious strain ; Mountain of God ! did prostrate man adore, And sing hosannas to Jehovah's name, Wliile sacrifices fed thine altar's flame ? But when stern War his sanguine banner spread. And strewed the earth with many a warrior slain, Didst thou become the charnel of the dead. Who sought imperial sway, or for fair Freedom bled ? Yes ; here may some intrepid chieftain he. Some Alexander, great as Phihp's son. Whose daring prowess bade the Persian fly Before the conquering arm of Macedon ; Or, greater still, some former Washing- ton, Whom glory warmed and liberty inspired! Who for this hemisphere perchance had won His country's freedom, and, deplored, ex- pired. Bathed by a nation's tears, beloved, re- vered, admired. ( 115 )