POEMS IN BLANK VERSE

H

THE BURSTING OF 'CONE

MAUGH LAKE,

JOHNSTOWN, U.S., MAY 31, 1889,

IN WHICH 14,000 PERSONS PERISHED. THE DISASTER TOOK PLACE AT HALF-PAST TWO O'CLOCK, IN EARLY DAWN.

THE busy town was hushed, and silence reigned Around, upon that eve of leafy June;

And sweetly Nature nestled everywhere.

The bird-song hushed, the hum and chirp

Of each wee wingèd thing that flits on earth, through air

Had ceased; and weary men who toiled all day, The labour-sleep full deep and dreamless slept.

In light repose a babe lay on the breast
Of many a tired house-mother.

came

Young Love

All decked in pearly robe of rainbow hues
To whisper pæans sweet to maidens fair,
And steep their senses in a new delight.

The restless little children slumb'ring lay
Within their cots, while pleasing dreams

Brought dimpling smiles to play all lightly 'mong
Their roses.
Nature, empress first and last

Of all the universe, did then enforce

Her gentle law, and saw that ev'ryone

Of all her various subjects rested.

But, hark! What is that cannon boom that rends
The air with awful roar, more fiercely than
The concentrated sound of myriads of huge
Field-pieces, belching forth their fire and death?
Is this artillery of Heaven that bursts
Upon the ear in new and forceful form?

Now comes the rush of mighty waters—see,

They leap along their course like chargers spurred To agony, expending all their strength

To compass full destruction of some foe.

Or hungry tigers springing on their prey