The Sisters of Scio

“Sister, sweet sister! let me weep awhile!
Bear with me--give the sudden passion way!
Thoughts of our own lost home, our sunny isle,
Come as a wind that o’er a reed hath sway;
Till my heart dies with yearnings and sick fears--
Oh! could my life melt from me in these tears!

“Our father’s voice, our mother’s gentle eye,
Our brother’s bounding step--where are they, where?
Desolate, desolate our chambers lie!
--How hast thou won thy spirit from despair?
O’er mine swift shadows, gusts of terror, sweep:
I sink away--bear with me--let me weep!”

“Yes! weep my sister! weep, till from thy heart
The weight flow forth in tears; yet sink thou not.
I bind my sorrow to a lofty part,
For thee, my gentle one! our orphan lot
To meet in quenchless trust. My soul is strong:
Thou, too, wilt rise in holy might ere long.

“A breath of our free heavens and noble sires,
A memory of our old victorious dead--
These mantle me with power; and though their fires
In a frail censer briefly may be shed,
Yet shall they light us onward, side by side--
Have the wild birds, and have not we, a guide?

“Cheer, then, beloved! on whose meek brow is set
Our mother’s image--in whose voice a tone,
A faint, sweet sound of hers is lingering yet,
An echo of our childhood’s music gone.
Cheer thee! thy sister’s heart and faith are high:
Our path is one--with thee I live and die!”