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Poem
August 29, 1891
The Sully County Watchman
Onida, Clifton, Sully County, South Dakota
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem praising midsummer noon, the sun's eternal glory, drawing from Greek worship of Apollo to a modern sense of divine power in unchanging seasonal cycles and nature's beauty.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FARM AND GARDEN.
A MID-SUMMER PEAN.
FOREST AND STREAM.
From the meadows comes faintly the sound of the mowing,
Born up to the ear on the soft southern breeze,
The hillsides in scarlet with lilies are glowing,
And the cattle lie resting beneath the broad trees.
It is mid summer noon, and the sun in his glory
Pours down his warm rays on the bosom of earth,
Forever repeating the wonderful story
He has told through the ages since time had its birth.
'Tis small wonder, that bursting from clouds in the morning,
Or robing in crimson from victories won.
All nature with light, heat and beauty adorning
The life-loving Greeks made a God of the sun.
When he rose from his slumbers beneath the Aegean,
How the daffodils opened their buds in the spring,
While the bees and the birds, in a mid-summer paean,
All hastened the praise of Apollo to sing
Who else but a Deity, blessed and blessing
Could thus condescend upon mortals to shine
With his smiles. Now the tenderest flower cares sing,
Now ripening the olive, the corn and the vine
Although Greece has long faded, with all of her glory,
The same sun sheds its beams over earth's widest range,
While no record of mortal, though ever so hoary,
Detects in his brightness a shadow of change
Through the beauty of springtime, the splendor of summer,
The glories of autumn, and winter's long rest,
He repeats the same legend to earth's latest comer
That he told the first day when he sank in the west.
No longer we worship the fabled immortals.
Nor bow to their images, graven in stone,
But we dimly discern, as though the half-opened portals,
A power unseen, though not as unknown.
While we throw to the winds mythological fables,
Cast the shackles and fetters of false creeds down the line.
As we gaze on the seasons, so changing, yet stable,
Who can doubt that the author of all is divine?
A MID-SUMMER PEAN.
FOREST AND STREAM.
From the meadows comes faintly the sound of the mowing,
Born up to the ear on the soft southern breeze,
The hillsides in scarlet with lilies are glowing,
And the cattle lie resting beneath the broad trees.
It is mid summer noon, and the sun in his glory
Pours down his warm rays on the bosom of earth,
Forever repeating the wonderful story
He has told through the ages since time had its birth.
'Tis small wonder, that bursting from clouds in the morning,
Or robing in crimson from victories won.
All nature with light, heat and beauty adorning
The life-loving Greeks made a God of the sun.
When he rose from his slumbers beneath the Aegean,
How the daffodils opened their buds in the spring,
While the bees and the birds, in a mid-summer paean,
All hastened the praise of Apollo to sing
Who else but a Deity, blessed and blessing
Could thus condescend upon mortals to shine
With his smiles. Now the tenderest flower cares sing,
Now ripening the olive, the corn and the vine
Although Greece has long faded, with all of her glory,
The same sun sheds its beams over earth's widest range,
While no record of mortal, though ever so hoary,
Detects in his brightness a shadow of change
Through the beauty of springtime, the splendor of summer,
The glories of autumn, and winter's long rest,
He repeats the same legend to earth's latest comer
That he told the first day when he sank in the west.
No longer we worship the fabled immortals.
Nor bow to their images, graven in stone,
But we dimly discern, as though the half-opened portals,
A power unseen, though not as unknown.
While we throw to the winds mythological fables,
Cast the shackles and fetters of false creeds down the line.
As we gaze on the seasons, so changing, yet stable,
Who can doubt that the author of all is divine?
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Midsummer Paean
Sun Glory
Greek Apollo
Nature Cycles
Divine Power
Seasonal Beauty
Poem Details
Title
A Mid Summer Pean.
Subject
Mid Summer Paean To The Sun And Nature
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas In Iambic Tetrameter
Key Lines
From The Meadows Comes Faintly The Sound Of The Mowing,
Born Up To The Ear On The Soft Southern Breeze,
The Hillsides In Scarlet With Lilies Are Glowing,
And The Cattle Lie Resting Beneath The Broad Trees.
It Is Mid Summer Noon, And The Sun In His Glory
Pours Down His Warm Rays On The Bosom Of Earth,
Forever Repeating The Wonderful Story
He Has Told Through The Ages Since Time Had Its Birth.
Who Else But A Deity, Blessed And Blessing
Could Thus Condescend Upon Mortals To Shine
With His Smiles. Now The Tenderest Flower Cares Sing,
Now Ripening The Olive, The Corn And The Vine
As We Gaze On The Seasons, So Changing, Yet Stable,
Who Can Doubt That The Author Of All Is Divine?