The Legend of Heart-break Hill

November's sun is slanting down

Upon the hill-side bare and brown;

On withered flowers, on leafless trees,

That shiver in the Autumn breeze.

Low at its foot the river flows,

Ant the calm beauty of repose

Lies over all the land to-day;

On field and sky and far-off bay.

I see the cold dark shadows pass

O'er wooded knoll, and short dry grass;

And in that quiet Autumn Day

Some distant bird pipes forth his lay.

I rest upon the slant hill-side,

And watch the river's peaceful tide,

While thoughts of Present, Past, To Be,

Thong forth and bear me company.

And yet, with many a backward glance

As tender take, and old romance,

Flits to the upper current still

The old romance of Heart-break Hill.

I picture all the sad scene o'er-

The lovers parting on the shore;

The light canoe; the stalwart form;

The darkening night; the gathering storm.

I see the red-browed maiden stand

Till darkness covers all the land,

Silent, and calm, and sad, and still,-

Then slowly wander from the hill.

But day by day still sees her there

With beaded dress, and flowing hair;

And sad eyes gaxzing far away

O'er the calm waters of the bay.

I note the long weeks come and go;

I see her weary look of woe;

I hear her call and vainly shout

When from the hill-top she looks out.

But still he tarries, and the days

Grow long, and Summer's fervid rays

Stream o'er the land: but still, oh still

She keeps her watch on that lone hill.

With saddened heart, and eyes all dim,

With silent weeping, but for him;

Poor heart, cease weeping; for no more,

Thy lover's boat comes to the shore.

Upon the hill-side bare and brown

The snows of Winter settle down;

Down on the maiden's lifeless form

Dead 'mid the Winter and the storm.

Lightly has time passed o'er the spot

And the tale is not forgot;

For sweet sad memories haunt it still,

And people call it Heart-break Hill.

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Published in the Ipswich Bulletin in October of 1866. The author was not given

Poems