Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove

Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove
Perched on an olive branch, and heard her cooing
’Mid new-born blossoms that soft airs were wooing,
While all things present told of joy and love.
But restless Fancy left that olive grove
To hail the exploratory Bird renewing
Hope for the few, who, at the world’s undoing,
On the great flood were spared to live and move.
O bounteous Heaven! signs true as dove and bough
Brought to the ark are coming evermore,
Even though men seek them not, but, while they plough
This sea of life without a visible shore,
Do neither promise ask nor grace implore
In what alone is ours, the vouchsafed Now.