Poems (Sherwin)/The wild woods and valleys

4524338Poems — The wild woods and valleysElizabeth Sherwin
THE WILD WOODS AND VALLEYS.
Oh! the mountains, the wild woods and valleys for me,
Where the hare and the wild deer stray,
Where the birds chaunt their songs upon every tree,
And squirrels at liberty play.

There, nature in truth and in beauty is dress'd,
Without the distortions of art;
There, all things with peace and with freedom are bless'd,
And the purest of joy fills the heart.

There, unseen, I can listen to nature's sweet mirth,
My heart beating wildly with glee;
And my glad spirit turn from the grovellers of earth,
And exultingly feel it is free.

Then the wild woods, the hills and valleys for me,
Where the lightning shoots harmless on high;
Where the loud thunders roll, and the torrents dash free,
And the rough wind sweeps playfully by.