Elizabeth Oakes Smith - An Incident lyrics

A simple thing, yet chancing as it did, When life was bright with its illusive dreams, A pledge and promise seemed beneath it hid The ocean lay before me, tinged with beams That lingering draped the west, a wavering stir; And at my feet down fell a worn gray quill: And eagle, high above the darkling fir, With steady flight, seemed there to take his fill Of that pure ether breathed by him alone. O noble bird! why didst thou loose for me Thy eagle plume? still unessayed, unknown, Must be that pathway fearless winged by thee: I ask it not, no lofty flight be mine; I would not soar like thee, in loneliness to pine!