My friend Bob for the most part made verses in commendation of the
eyes and cheeks of Betty Manning. After her death, however, he at
times left these to the worm, and wrote upon other matters.
One thing for which Bob was renowned was his disregard of everything
like accuracy in his literary statements, and in his quotations from
books. I find the following singular note appended to a little poem
which with many others, fell to my care at his death.
"The flight of the Huma is in so rarified an atmosphere, that blood
oozes from its pores; its plumage is constantly colored with it. The
eyes, too, of this comrade of the clouds, unlike those of the eagle or
hawk, have a sorrowful and lack lustre appearance."--_Spix_.
Bob must have found this note on the same page with the description of
the "Chowchowtow." But that is no business of mine.
The verses to which the above note was appended were headed "_The
Huma_."
Mark how the sun flush dyeth
Earth and sky!
Bravely yon Huma flyeth
Lone and high.
Thine is a flight of glory
Bold bird of the bosom gory,
And mournful eye!--what story
Hath that eye?
What tale of sorrow telleth
That bosom?--Hark!
In yon high bright breast dwelleth
Pain low and dark.
O is it not thus ever
With human bard?
His wings of glory quiver
By no mist marred;
The clouds' high path he shareth,
His breast to heaven he bareth--
And a regal hue it weareth--
But--dark reward!
'Tis blood his breast that staineth--
His own hot blood.
Over thought's high realm he reigneth
His heart his food.