Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
January 10, 1804
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem addressing a stranger to pause and reflect on the sorrows of the blind, highlighting their deprivations and the comforts provided by a blind asylum, ending with a call for charity inspired by Christ's compassion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Miscellaneous Repository.
THE BLIND ASYLUM
By
Wm. Smith
STRANGER pause—for thee the day
Smiling pours its cheerful ray,
Spreads the lawn, and rears the bower,
Lights the stream, and paints the flower.
STRANGER pause—with softened mind,
Learn the sorrows of the blind—
Earth and sea, and varying skies,
Visit not their cheerless eyes.
Not for them the bliss to trace,
The child's animating grace;
Nor on the glowing canvass find
The poet's soul the age's mind.
Not for them the heart is seen
Speaking thro' th' expressive mien—
Not for them are pictured there
Friendship, pity, love sincere.
Helpless, as they lowly stray,
Childhood points their cheerless way
Or the wand exploring guides
Faltering steps where fear presides.
Yet for them has genius kind
Humble pleasures here assigned—
Here with unexpected ray,
Reach'd the soul that felt no day.
Lonely blindness here can meet
Kindred woes, and converse sweet
Torpid once can learn to smile
Proudly o'er its useful toil.
He who deign'd for man to die,
Op'd on day the darken'd eye—
Humbly copy—thou canst feel—
Give thine alms—thou canst not heal.
THE BLIND ASYLUM
By
Wm. Smith
STRANGER pause—for thee the day
Smiling pours its cheerful ray,
Spreads the lawn, and rears the bower,
Lights the stream, and paints the flower.
STRANGER pause—with softened mind,
Learn the sorrows of the blind—
Earth and sea, and varying skies,
Visit not their cheerless eyes.
Not for them the bliss to trace,
The child's animating grace;
Nor on the glowing canvass find
The poet's soul the age's mind.
Not for them the heart is seen
Speaking thro' th' expressive mien—
Not for them are pictured there
Friendship, pity, love sincere.
Helpless, as they lowly stray,
Childhood points their cheerless way
Or the wand exploring guides
Faltering steps where fear presides.
Yet for them has genius kind
Humble pleasures here assigned—
Here with unexpected ray,
Reach'd the soul that felt no day.
Lonely blindness here can meet
Kindred woes, and converse sweet
Torpid once can learn to smile
Proudly o'er its useful toil.
He who deign'd for man to die,
Op'd on day the darken'd eye—
Humbly copy—thou canst feel—
Give thine alms—thou canst not heal.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Blind Asylum
Sorrows Of The Blind
Charity
Religious Compassion
Moral Reflection
What entities or persons were involved?
Wm. Smith
Poem Details
Title
The Blind Asylum
Author
Wm. Smith
Subject
The Sorrows Of The Blind And The Asylum
Key Lines
Stranger Pause—For Thee The Day
Smiling Pours Its Cheerful Ray,
Spreads The Lawn, And Rears The Bower,
Lights The Stream, And Paints The Flower.
He Who Deign'd For Man To Die,
Op'd On Day The Darken'd Eye—
Humbly Copy—Thou Canst Feel—
Give Thine Alms—Thou Canst Not Heal.