The Litle Girl Lost

In futurity
I prophesy
That the earth from sleep
(Grave the sentence deep)
Shall arise, and seek
For her Maker meek;
And the desert wild
Become a garden mild

In the southern clime
Where the summer's prime
Never fades away,
Lovely Lyca lay

Seven summers old
Lovely Lyca told
She had wandered long
Hearing wild birds' song

Sweet sleep, come to me
Underneath this tree;
Do father, mother, weep?
Where can Lyca sleep?

Lost in desert wild
Is your little child
How can Lyca sleep
If her mother weep?

If her heart does ache
Then let Lyca wake
If my mother sleep
Lyca shall not weep

Frowning, frowning night
O'er this desert bright
Let thy moon arise,
While I close my eyes

Sleeping Lyca lay
While the beasts of prey
Come from caverns deep,
Viewed the maid asleep

The kingly lion stood,
And the virgin viewed:
Then he gambolled round
O'er the hallowed ground

Leopards, tigers, play
Round her as she lay
While the lion old
Bowed his mane of gold

And her bosom lick
And upon her neck
From his eyes of flame
Ruby tears there came

While the lioness
Loosed her slender dress
And naked they conveyed
To caves the sleeping maid