American Female Poets [an electronic edition]

MAIDEN PURITY.

(THE LILY OF THE NILE.)

BE thine the emblem, sweet one —watch and pray, Win thy young, stainless heart from earthly things; Oh! wait not thou till life's bright morning ray Only o'er blighted hopes its radiance flings, But give to Heaven thy sinless spirit now, Ere sorrow's tracery mar thy placid brow.

Sinless and pure thou art, yet is thy soul Filled with a maiden's vague and pleasant dreams, Sweet fantasies that mock at truth's control, Like atoms round thee float in fancy's beams; But trust them not, young dreamer —bid them flee, They have deceived all others, and will thee.

Well can I read thy thoughts —thy gentle heart (Already woman's in its wish to bless) Now longs for one to whom it may impart Its untold wealth of hidden tenderness,

And yearns to know the meaning of the thrill That wakes when fancy stirs affection's rill.

Thou dreamest of love's happiness, —the deep And placid joy which poets paint so well. Alas! our passions, even when they sleep, Like ocean waves, are heaved with secret swell, And they who hear the frequent, low-breathed sigh, Know 't is the wailing of the storm gone by.

Vain, vain are all thy visions; couldst thou know The secrets of a woman's weary lot, Oh! couldst thou read upon her pride-veiled brow Her wasted tenderness, her love forgot, In humbleness of heart thou wouldst kneel down, And pray for strength to wear her martyr crown.