Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79. | | | | New England: Blue Mountains, Me. | | The Presence | | Lucy Larcom (1826–1893) |
| | | THE MOUNTAIN statelier lifts his blue-veiled head, | |
| While, drawing near, we meet him face to face. | |
| Here, as on holy ground, we softly tread; | |
| Yet, with a tender and paternal grace, | |
| He gives the wild-flowers in his lap a place: | 5 |
| They climb his sides, as fondled infants might, | |
| And wind around him, in a light embrace, | |
| Their summer drapery, pink and clinging white. | |
| Great hearts have largest room to bless the small; | |
| Strong natures give the weaker home and rest: | 10 |
| So Christ took little children to his breast, | |
| And, with a reverence more profound, we fall | |
| In the majestic presence that can give | |
| Truth’s simplest message: “’T is by love ye live.” | | | | |
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