A Poem: The Hind
All birds and beasts that day know well,
Though scarce a creature could foretell,
When from afar there came the Hind
Forever in the wood to dwell.
The sweetest breeze across their breast,
And rousing from a mournful rest,
The faintest glimmer they beheld
Of unspoken hope, that hour blest.
Then shaky legs forgot their fear
Amid the silence, strong and clear;
He turned to earth his kindly eyes
To draw the timid creatures near.
It seemed that he had come so late
To weary spirits who must wait,
And yet the secrets whispered there
Would serve to make that darkness sweet.
From forest waters rushing through
He drank and made their currents new,
But then he paused and raised his head.
In latter days it pleased him so
To make the trees and flowers grow,
And thus his heart immersed their roots.
At every place upon the earth
The newer blossoms came to birth
Where he had lain his blessed hooves.
All days and hours, uncounted time
Say little of that gift sublime,
But grateful creatures know him well.