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A continuing selection of classic and contemporary poems.

Watch Hill

Hattie Howard

Fair summer home peninsula,
  Enriched by every breeze
From fragrant islands, wafted far
  Across the sunny seas!

A profile rare! a height of land
  Outlined ‘gainst heaven’s blue
With bolder touch than skillful hand
  Of artist ever drew.

In “mountain billows” that parade
  The grandeur of the deep,
Is His supremacy displayed
  Whose hands the waters keep.

No sweep of waves, in broad expanse,
  With wild, weird melody,
Shall thus an unseen world enhance—
  “There shall be no more sea!”

A wealth of joy-perfected days,
  Where glorious sunset dyes,
Resplendent in declining rays,
  Surpass Italia’s skies!

Proud caravansaries that compete
  In studied arts to please
The multitude, with restless feet,
  From earth’s antipodes!

A motley company astray:
  The sojourner for health,
The grave, serene, the devotee
  Of fashion and of wealth.

Artistic cottages upreared
  In beauty, strength, and skill—
The happy, healthful homes endeared
  To lovers of Watch Hill!

A golden crown adorns the spot;
  Forever blessed be
The hand beneficent that wrought
  “A temple by the sea!”

A star in some bright diadem
  In glory it shall be,
For truly, “I will honor them,”
  Saith God, “who honor me.”

When Christians meet to praise and pray,
  May feet that never trod
The sanctuary learn the way
  Unto the house of God.

Glad paeans down the centuries
  With joy the world shall thrill:
“The Lord, revered and honored, is
  The glory of Watch Hill!”
Online text © 1998-2008 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Poems | Hartford Press, 1904
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