The Slave

The Slave

 [written to illustrate a picture]

"There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart!"
                                                   --Cowper

I

He sadly sits upon the bark,

His chained hands are on his face.

What bitter thoughts, what visions dark
Of misery and wretchedness
Now like a furious tempest roll
Within his dark, bewilder'd soul!

II
The ship that wafts him far away
From country, home, Love 's sunny world
Sits proudly on the Ocean spray
Her giant wings are all unfurl'd;
Yes, soon she 'll walk the foaming brine
And sever thee from all that's thine!

III
Far, far beyond the rolling wave,
Thou soon shalt press a sod unknown
Or slumber in a nameless grave,
Sad unlamented all alone
Without a smoothing sigh, a tear
Shed by Affection on thy bier!

IV
No more, no more, oh! never more,
Beneath the Cocoa's spreading shade
Or by the solitary shore,
Or o'er the flow'r-- enamel' d glade.
Shalt thou in pensive musing mood
Court the soft charms of solitude!

V
Or with thy lov'd and loving bride,
At even the lover's sacred hour
Stand by the mossy fountain-side,
Or sit with the blushing bower,
To mark the stars peep out the skies
Or gaze upon her brighter eyes.

VI
Or swiftly paddle thy canoe
Gay chanting thy wild native song.
On the Lake 's breast unruffled, blue,
Or the wide foaming bring along.

*      *      *      *      *      *

 

Poem no: 20

Poem No 19

Poem No 19

I loved a maid, a blue eyed maid

As fair a maid can e'er be, O.

But she, oft with disdain repaid

My fondness and affection O.

For her I sighed and e'er shall sigh

Tho she shall ne'er be mine, O.

For this sad heart's starless sky

None but herself can light, O.

Poem no: 19

The Heavenly Ball

The Heavenly Ball

A Fragment

[Dedication to G.D. Bysak. Esqr.]

I intended to make this a long poem, My Gour!

But I find me too idle to do it.

But unfinished as it is, yet to you, My Gour!

I do dedicate, so you must take it.

Tho short, oh! too short is the time we've My Gour!

To meet on this side of the tomb, killing thought!

Yet, Friendship and Love shall be e'er ours My Gour!

Where 'er may Fate lend me thou shan't be forgot!

The night was fair the heavenly hall

Was thronged with stars all soft and bright

'Twas plain some spirit gave a ball.

For never never, mortal sight

Behold a more splendid scene!

The moon was on the chair, Fair Queen!

A halo rainbow hued as fair

As that which Future seems to wear.

When seen thro Fancy 's magic glass,

Encircled 'round her while her glance

Made e'en Darkness (oh! so sweet it was!)

Put on a lovelier countenance!--

*      *      *      *

Poem no: 18

Lines

Lines

I

The menial through that crowds the Indian shore,

Braves the fierce gale to try their helpless oar,

From such men, tis true, muse disdains renown.

Thou must be thy prey when to beaty 's own.

II

Go, fortunate lines! and tell the maid

That tis for her I die! 

O! that some tears when I am dead,

Descending from that lovely eye,

May hallow my untimely bier

And soothe my spirit lingering there!

III

I met thee, tears came in my eye,

Oh! they were soothing tears.

The tribute of sad memory,

Dear Friend! to parted years!

Poem no: 16

Poem No 16

Poem No 16

[ A Tale ]

Who has heard-- while Time was young--

A race there was-by poets sung--

Called Pygmies--little things--

Who has not heard --dark cruel War.

Before the bloody shrine of Mar

Did sacrifice these beings?--

And like the Storm- fiend's dreadful breath

Did hurl them all to hell and Death.

Poem no: 16

Poem No 15

[The following little poem is dedicated to G. D Bysack Esqr as a slight but sincere token of respect for his learning admiration for his amiable qualities. And esteem for his valuable friendship; By the author M. S. Dutt.]

Poem No 15

1

I am like the Earth revolving

Ever round the self same Sun, Boy,

Seasons both of Joy and Sorrow,

I have, like her, as I run, Boy.

2

O! her eyes soft, tender beamings,

And her sweet bewitching smile, Boy,

Like enchantment's potent spell do

Call for the gayer, brighter springs, Boy.

3

But when frowns like lowering clouds, do

Over cast her sunny brow, Boy

Then oh! then the freezing winter

Of dark sorrow chills my head, Boy.

4

Now, fond hope buds blossoms sweetly

Vernal thoughts do fill my head, Boy.

Now, dark disappointment dreadful

All my joys and hopes doth blast, Boy.

5

Thus I'm like the Earth, revolving

Ever round the self same Sun Boy,

Seasons both of Joy and Sorrow,

Like her, I have, as I run, Boy!

Poem no: 15

Poem No 14

Poem No 14

I

My thoughts my dreams are all of thee

Though absent still thou seemest near,

Thine image everywhere I see--

Thy voice in every gale I hear.

II

When softly o'er the evening sky,

The stars seem twinkling one by one,

The star of eve arrests my eye,

As if it hit the sky alone.

III

So like its tranquil lustre seems

The light of that soft eye of thine--

The star of hope, whose cheering beams

Upon my heart so sweetly shine.

IV

The lake, whose placid waters be

Calm and unruffled by the wind

Gives a fair image to mine eye

Of thy serenely pensive mind.

V

The streams that wander glad and free

And make sweet music as they flow

Remind me of thine hours of glee--

Thy playful arts to banish woe.

VI

The soul is imaged by the hills,

That stand unshaken by the blast;

And hence the hope my bosom fills,

Thou wilt be constant to the last.

VII

Whate'er in this fair earth I see

'Mong Nature's form thats' pure and bright

Reminds me ever, love, of thee

And brings thine image to my sight.

Poem no: 14