Saint Valentine
By Samuel J. Pike
OH! chant a welcome to Saint Valentine,
Who cometh in the fulness of his pride
Upon a jeweled chariot. By his side
Sits Love, whose newly-quivered arrows shine
Like sunlight flashing on the the blushful wine.
A host of Thoughts, swift-winged and timorous-eyed,
The heralds of their sovereign's comeing, ride
Before his radiant wheels; while Hope, benign
As angel-faces, heaven-descended Peace,
Unfaltering Faith and holy Confidence,
With songs whose melody shall never cease,
Attend his car; and happiness, intense
And beautiful, with voice like balmy breeze
Of summer eve, proclaims young Love's omnipotence!
Oh! to Saint Valentine a welcome sing,
Ye fearful, who have long in secret yearned
To find expression of the thoughts that burned
Within you, Jubilantly chanting, bring
To Beauty's brow the garlands ye have learned
To weave, while tremulous the heart hath turned
Unto its shrine in silent worshipping.
Unburden now the bosom that hath longed
To find for passion deep an utterance;
And to the sweet emotions that have thronged
The breast, awakened by dear Beauty's glance,
Give voice, for license ever hath belonged
To souls illumed by Valentine's blithe countenance!
Sonnet from Godey's Lady's Book, February 1849.
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