| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 616. The Pines |
| | | By Harriet Prescott Spofford |
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| COULDST thou, Great Fairy, give to me | |
| The instant’s wish, that I might see | |
| Of all the earth’s that one dear sight | |
| Known only in a dream’s delight, | |
| I would, beneath some island steep, | 5 |
| In some remote and sun-bright deep, | |
| See high in heaven above me now | |
| A palm-tree wave its rhythmic bough! | |
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| And yet this old pine’s haughty crown, | |
| Shaking its clouds of silver down, | 10 |
| Whispers me snatches of strange tunes | |
| And murmur of those awful runes | |
| Which tell by subtle spell, and power | |
| Of secret sympathies, the hour | |
| When far in the dark North the snow | 15 |
| Among great bergs begins to blow. | |
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| Nay, thou sweet South of heats and balms, | |
| Keep all thy proud and plumy palms, | |
| Keep all thy fragrant flowery ease, | |
| Thy purple skies, thy purple seas! | 20 |
| These boughs of blessing shall not fail, | |
| These voices singing in the gale, | |
| The vigor of these mighty lines: | |
| I will content me with my pines! | |
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