To My Brothers

Small, busy flames play through the fresh-laid coals,

      And their faint cracklings o'er our silence creep

      Like whispers of the household gods that keep

A gentle empire o'er fraternal souls.

And while, for rhymes, I search around the poles,

      Your eyes are fix'd, as in poetic sleep,

      Upon the lore so voluble and deep,

That aye at fall of night our care condoles.

This is your birth-day, Tom, and I rejoice

      That thus it passes smoothly, quietly:

Many such eves of gently whisp'ring noise

      May we together pass, and calmly try

What are this world's true joys,—ere the great Voice,

      From its fair face, shall bid our spirits fly.