Nathaniel H. Wright (1787–1824)

IN Huron’s wave a lovely isle

Gems the blue water’s vast expanse.

There nature wears her sweetest smile,

And sunbeams o’er her beauties dance.

In vain the angry billows beat

Against its rock-encircled shore;

The spray but makes its blossoms sweet,

Expanding ’mid the tempest’s roar.

But when the winds and waves are hush’d,

And evening’s shade is stealing on,

When the last beams of day have blush’d,

And Hesper mounts his cloudless throne

How gently weep the dews of night,

Which bow the tender harebell’s head

And, falling noiseless, sweetly light

Upon the spotless lily’s bed.

Oh! were but man like that fair isle,

In vain should trouble’s tempests gloom;

Hope’s fairest flowers around should smile,

And faith and resignation bloom.

When life’s last lingering beam should fade,

The radiant star of peace would rise,

And dews of grace, at evening’s shade,

His spirit nurture for the skies.