Kanawha Valley Star

For the Kanawha Valley Star.
A Tribute to Spring.
Re-echo, woods, your notes of joy!
Ye happy songsters tune your lay,
And all your utmost powers employ,
To celebrate this lovely day.
Ye sighing zephyrs welcome, Lo,
Your magic spell enlivens all—
Gives to the birds a soul anew,
And scatters nature's gloomy pall.
The fountain's sportive, liquid note
Swells into music full and high,
Then, as a midnight song remote,
Ebbs into plaintive melody.
The fitful blasts of odors sweet,
From myriads of flowers, fair,
Rush into this my lone retreat,
And waste my soul as pleasures mar.
Blest nature! clothed in full, e'en now
Stands like a bride for marriage dressed,
With flowers fair wreathed o'er her brow,
And sparkling gems upon her breast!
Her bosom heaves a low, faint sigh.
As gently zephyrs pass along;
But when she sees the smiling sky,
'Tis changed into a playful song.
O, could our senseless words portray
The fairness of a beauteous spring,
And place them in the captive's way,
Who ne'er had seen a vernal thing,
His soul enraptured would shine thro'
The gloomy dungeon of its cell;
But not to see and yet to know
Would be a bidding peace farewell!
As from this spot here dove aspires,
I turn to view the works of man;
The crowded mansion's tow'ring spires
With beauty of a deathlike wan,
I sigh to think how soon decay,
Regardless of the costly domes,
Shall noiseless thro' this village stray,
And leave but marks and careful gloom,
KANAWHA CO., Va.
FILIUS NATURAE.