POEM- THE ACACIA BY H. F.GOULD-ORIENTAL ACACIA

 THE ACACIA. 

Written for a flower-book on the yellow Oriental Acacia. Acacia Arabica as symbolic of the Church in the world or of Christian beauty and graces. The popular line on this celebrated tree- "Th' Acacia waves her yellow hair,"- refers to the long, silky filaments that compose the flower. Some writers, taking their idea solely from the story of the poem to which the above line belong,s have given a symbolic illustration of this tree quite different from the one here employed. 

ACACIA, nature's modest child! 
Blooms artless in the lonely wild; 
Remote from throngs and public gaze,- 
From common love, and vulgar praise. 
Her lover,He who formed her fair, 

And placed her in the desert,- there 

To shine, the beauty of the trees,- 

His own peculiar eye to please.

 And she to Him is pure and true, 

As morning sun and evening dew! 

Not with the tear of contrite grief, 

Nor for a broken heart's relief, 

Are her soft golden locks unbound,- 

Her precious odors poured around. 

She hath not sinned,- and Innocence 

Can show no sign of penitence! 

In glad devotion to her Lord, 

Her graces shine,- her sweets are poured. 

The pilgrim to his hallowed shrine, 

Who threads the wild with aim divine, 

May find her shade from noontide heat 

A soft, refreshing, calm retreat. 

She'll o'er him stretch her verdant bough, 

To bathe with balm his burning brow;

 And fan, with glorious, wavy bloom, 

That patient traveller to the tomb. 

On dreary paths in meekness trod, 

She blesses man from love to God. 

References:

1.NEW POEMS BY MISS HANNAH F. GOULD BOSTON WILLIAM J REYNOLDS & CO 24 CORNHILL 1850