The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | VII. |
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GAZING BACKWARD
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
282
GAZING BACKWARD
We shall survey our lives, when life is past,
With strange transfigured vision,—when at last
The whole before us gleams.
We shall say, “Here a victory was ours:
Here gathered we sweet wealth of passion's flowers:
Here love's eyes filled our dreams.”
With strange transfigured vision,—when at last
The whole before us gleams.
We shall say, “Here a victory was ours:
Here gathered we sweet wealth of passion's flowers:
Here love's eyes filled our dreams.”
Yes, all shall then be changed, and yet the same.
The fiery current of the sun's red flame
Shall still dart down the air:
The flowers shall lavish fragrance on the breeze,
And still Spring's kiss shall greet the lilac-trees
In London street and square.
The fiery current of the sun's red flame
Shall still dart down the air:
The flowers shall lavish fragrance on the breeze,
And still Spring's kiss shall greet the lilac-trees
In London street and square.
Yet, as we look, how changed ourselves shall be!
With how far different glances shall we see
The house-tops veiled in smoke:
With what far other eyes shall we behold
The sunset struggle with its soot-grimed gold
Through city plane and oak.
With how far different glances shall we see
The house-tops veiled in smoke:
With what far other eyes shall we behold
The sunset struggle with its soot-grimed gold
Through city plane and oak.
283
Here loved we; here we suffered; here we won
A noble victory; were here undone,
Were here restored and saved:—
Such thoughts upon the souls with which we rise
Through sullied smoke-spheres to the spotless skies
Shall be past change engraved.
A noble victory; were here undone,
Were here restored and saved:—
Such thoughts upon the souls with which we rise
Through sullied smoke-spheres to the spotless skies
Shall be past change engraved.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |