Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STRENGTH FROM THE HILLS, by ELIZABETH OAKES PRINCE SMITH



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STRENGTH FROM THE HILLS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come up unto the hills! Thy strength is there
Last Line: And god himself more near!
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Seba (e. Oakes), Mrs.; Oakes-smith, Elizabeth
Subject(s): Mountains; Strength; Hills; Downs (great Britain)


COME up unto the hills! Thy strength is there;
Oh! thou hast tarried long,
Too long amid the bowers and blossoms fair,
With notes of summer song!
Why dost thou tarry here? What though the bird
Pipes matin in the vale --
The plough-boy whistles to the loitering herd
As the red daylights fail?

Yet come unto the hills -- the old strong hills,
And leave the stagnant plain;
Come to the gushing of the new-born rills,
As sing they to the main.
And thou shalt dwell with denizens of light; --
The eagle shall be there,
With tireless wing aslant the cloud of night,
Amid the lightning's glare.

Come up unto the hills! The shatter'd oak
There clings unto the rock,
With arms outstretch'd as 't would the storm invoke,
And dare again the shock.
Come where no fear is known, the sea-bird's nest
On the old hemlock swings,
There thou shalt feel the gladness of unrest,
And mount upon thy wings.

Come up unto the hills! The men of old,
They of undaunted will,
Grew jubilant of heart, and strong and bold,
On the enduring hill, --
Where come the soundings of the sea afar
Borne inward to the ear,
And nearer grow the moon, and midnight star,
And God himself more near!





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