Late of Kingston (Esopus) during the Loss of his Sight.
Father of light and life, Creator wise!
Great benefactor, and support of all!
In frowns and mercies, both divinely kind;
While this hand chastens, that diffuses bliss,
O teach my soul chearful resignation
To thy will; calm content and smiling patience;
Forgive my sins, then tho’ deprived of vision,
Of seeing thee, in all the wondrous works
In air, earth, sea and skies, supreme perfection
Will I kiss the rod and bless the smiter;
Will I thank thy divine correcting hand,
Which might have made me infinitely worse,
For all the various blessings I enjoy;
For tender parents, friends, relations kind,
A virtuous spouse and blooming offspring;
For plentious food and raiment. My soul submit,
Think the decrees of Heaven are wise and just,
Most beneficial to thyself, and all.
Father! thy will is best and be it done.
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ELMINA; Or the +Flower+ that never +Fades+.
Fresh from their native beds I bring
These images of youth and spring;
Sweet flowers, whose bloom too quickly past,
What pity ye no longer last.
In early dawn the Vi’let spreads,
Its transient beauties thro’ the meads;
At close of day the maid no more
Can trace, alas! her fav’rite flow’r.
At noon the rose of damask hue,
She plucks, the gaudiest as it grew;
An instant sees its leaves expand,
The next they wither in her hand.
Yet one there is of lasting kind--
Happy the nymph this flower can find!
In never-ending sweets array’d,
Whose blooming beauties never fade.
’Tis neither violet nor rose,
Nor in the field nor garden grows;
Fast rooted in the soul ’tis seen,
And there maintains perpetual spring.
Would’st thou, ’till latest time shall end,
Secure the lover and the friend;
Elmina, cultivate with care,
The flow’r that blows immortal there.
Perfect in soul thou’lt quit this sod,
And soar aloft to meet thy God:
Join hands with seraphs at the shrine,
And taste of Love that’s all Divine.
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