When floating down the dizzy dance
'Mid song and sounds of revelry,
I'll turn from every rapturous glance,
And still love thee.

When sudden seas of sorrow roll
Around me wild, tempestuously,
And breakers break upon my soul,

I'll still love thee.

And when upon the couch of death,

And time is closing unto me,

My latest prayer-my latest breath

I'll breathe for thee.

IMPROMPTU,

ON BEING ASKED "WHY THIS GLOOM?"

ASK not, alas! whence is this gloom,
This dark cloud on my brow,

Why fadeth thus my cheek's fresh bloom,

Or why so pensive now.

Ask not, dear friend, why steal the tears

In silence from mine eye,

Why anguish in my look appears,

Or why so oft I sigh ;

For there are woes too deep for speech,

Feelings too finely strung

For human sympathy to reach,

Sorrows that have no tongue.

THE SPOT I LOVE BEST.

THERE is one only spot on earth,

That holds my heart beyond all other—

It is the place that gave me birth

Where lonely dwells my gentle mother:

And where the pensive willow weeps,
The streamlet calmly ever flows
Beside the sod where sweetly sleeps

My father in his last repose.

THE REQUEST.

WHEN this life shall cease to be,

Lay me not in this cold clime, Where there is no melody

In the birds' nor zephyr's chime ; Where the icy mountains frown,

Where the moon looks bleakly down

Hearts are all too cold to weep

O'er the humble poet's sleep.

Bear me to my sunny land,

Where the airs are pure and bland ;

Where the birds are ever singing,
Fountains springing, softly ringing,

Blossoms blushing into bloom
Breathing every where perfume;
Where the Chesapeake is flowing,
Where the placid skies are glowing,

Where my father's ashes lie,

Where the guardian seraphs sigh,

And above the early dead

Angels' dewy tears are shed,

Lay me in my silent sleep

There warm hearts will come and weep.