 | Poems of reflection |  |
89
LINES.
Dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. D. Atwood upon the celebration of their silver wedding, August 25th, 1874.
The harvest-moon of wedded love,
Fair in the heavens sailing,
Has reached mid-height, and, clear and bright,
Gives little sign of paling.
Fair in the heavens sailing,
Has reached mid-height, and, clear and bright,
Gives little sign of paling.
Since first, above the horizon,
The silvery crescent lifted,
The clouds of five-and-twenty years
Have o'er its surface drifted.
The silvery crescent lifted,
The clouds of five-and-twenty years
Have o'er its surface drifted.
But, while the days have come and gone,
Though many a changing “morrow,”
The growing moon sailed up and on
Above the hills of sorrow.
Though many a changing “morrow,”
The growing moon sailed up and on
Above the hills of sorrow.
And, though with years came blinding tears,
The guiding moon grew brighter;
It gave relief, in time of grief—
Made heavy burdens lighter.
The guiding moon grew brighter;
It gave relief, in time of grief—
Made heavy burdens lighter.
90
One quarter of one hundred years
It has been growing, filling,
Till, round and bright, its silvery light
On all tonight is spilling.
It has been growing, filling,
Till, round and bright, its silvery light
On all tonight is spilling.
Oh, harvesters on life's great plain!
The young sheaves shining 'round you
Prove that you have not toiled in vain—
Prove that God's blessing found you.
The young sheaves shining 'round you
Prove that you have not toiled in vain—
Prove that God's blessing found you.
Smile in the moonlight's silver gleam,
Rejoice in harvest weather;
Ye know ye may not always keep
The precious sheaves together!
Rejoice in harvest weather;
Ye know ye may not always keep
The precious sheaves together!
Shine on, oh moon of wedded bliss!
Live on through many a morrow,
Till from the sun of Immortal Love
Its golden light you borrow.
Live on through many a morrow,
Till from the sun of Immortal Love
Its golden light you borrow.
| Poems of reflection | |