Poems (Sherwin)/Lines on visiting overbury wood, near Bredon, Worcestershire
LINES ON VISITING OVERBURY WOOD, NEAR BREDON, WORCESTERSHIRE.
::Enchanting spot! Sweet Paradise of earth!
Here, wrapped in sweet seclusion, could I dwell
Unseen, unenvied and unknown,
In boundless admiration of thy scenes,
Which, to the fond admiring eye, present
A gay variety of beauty, ever new.
Here, wrapped in sweet seclusion, could I dwell
Unseen, unenvied and unknown,
In boundless admiration of thy scenes,
Which, to the fond admiring eye, present
A gay variety of beauty, ever new.
The lofty oak with spreading branches forms
A cool impenetrable shade,—alike
Resisting chilling blasts and scorching rays.
In its protecting shelter, blooming sweet,
The primrose mild, and lovely violet blow,
And all the gay variety of wild flowers.
The birds in fearless rapture warble forth
Their wild harmonious music,—charming all.
And thou, sweet stream, whose limpid waters roll
In gentle murmurs o'er the moss-grown pebbles,
Casting a dewy freshness over each
Surrounding flower and shrub: still will I watch
Your sacred winding course, until ye reach
The middle of the grove to rest awhile.
A cool impenetrable shade,—alike
Resisting chilling blasts and scorching rays.
In its protecting shelter, blooming sweet,
The primrose mild, and lovely violet blow,
And all the gay variety of wild flowers.
The birds in fearless rapture warble forth
Their wild harmonious music,—charming all.
And thou, sweet stream, whose limpid waters roll
In gentle murmurs o'er the moss-grown pebbles,
Casting a dewy freshness over each
Surrounding flower and shrub: still will I watch
Your sacred winding course, until ye reach
The middle of the grove to rest awhile.
Behold the spot! Sacred to heavenly love.
Enchanting! Beautiful! Here could I sit,
Beside this quiet lake of resting waters,
Which reflects the clear blue vault of heaven,
And muse untired. Oh! if on human life
Immortal spirits do attend and watch
Unseen, the erring steps of mortal man,
Here in this sacred spot they sure must rest.
Could I but shake the mist from off my eyes
And now behold them in this lovely shade;
I could imagine it were Paradise!
But oh! vain wish: each bond has long been burst
By man's transgressions—that spiritual
And mortal beings, bound in friendly intercourse,
Sad thought,—Death and the grave alone can now
Effect our union with angels, and conduct
Our souls to never-ending Paradise.
Enchanting! Beautiful! Here could I sit,
Beside this quiet lake of resting waters,
Which reflects the clear blue vault of heaven,
And muse untired. Oh! if on human life
Immortal spirits do attend and watch
Unseen, the erring steps of mortal man,
Here in this sacred spot they sure must rest.
Could I but shake the mist from off my eyes
And now behold them in this lovely shade;
I could imagine it were Paradise!
But oh! vain wish: each bond has long been burst
By man's transgressions—that spiritual
And mortal beings, bound in friendly intercourse,
Sad thought,—Death and the grave alone can now
Effect our union with angels, and conduct
Our souls to never-ending Paradise.