Kentucky Gazette

Thy home is in the rosy cheeks,
The charms that lurk in dimple cheek,
And glistens in the eye;
But where art thou, thou smiling guest,
More often mimicked than possessed,
And always prone to fly?
We'll seek thee in the mazy dance;
There deckest thou the enamoured glance,
More movingly to look;
For thee we'll revel with the fair,
Many a rustic bliss to share,
In spite of coy rebuke.
For thee we'll fill the enlivening bowl,
Single there thy joyous soul,
And win us to thy sway.
The still as ev'ning comes again,
Woo thee to come, and to remain,
To laugh the hours away.
But may'st thou dwell in scenes like these,
Where oft the heart is ill at ease,
Or in thy shadow seen;
Whilst thou dost wait in lordly hall,
Like Minstrel at the Monarch's call,
In pomp and pageant's train.
Blythe power with thee and freedom blest,
Who'd envy what the great possessed
Of mirth among the crowd:
Too light is thy attire for state,
Too honest for ambitious wear;
Too low for the proud.
Some sages once would find thee out,
They travelled them many a weary bout,
(And much time vainly spent)
Where pride, and wealth, & power abound.
But the portal the cottage found,
Chousing with content.

J. E. C.