Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
 | I. |
 | II. |
|
|
 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
11
BLESSINGS, HOW EARNED?
Great Blessings ask a wise Forbearance, aCalm Selfdenial; if too soon we would
Enjoy their Sweets, we lessen that same Good
Which, ripening in due Season, they would lay
Of themselves at our Feet, as in our Way
The ripest, sweetest Apples fall—we should
Not pluck the Fruittreesblossoms in a Mood
Of Overhaste, to smell and fling away
That without which the Fruit can never be:
'Tis but a fleeting Pleasure, for which we
Thus sacrifice the lasting one: and oh!
My Soul, wait God's good Time, thus surest the
Good hoped for will be thine—and if not so!
Yet hast thou lived so long, and dost not know
That when God gives a Blessing to us, he
Gives not that which we thought of always; no!
We must deserve it first—and then, when by
Patience we have done this, it comes, and lo!
We reap two godlike Goods for one alone!
And what if of the Blessings prayed for none
Should come to pass?-God does in Love deny;
Yet such his Bounty that he bestows on
Us the divinest of all which the sky
Contains, which is all others summed in one,
Patience! since waiting for the Blessing which
We hoped, that very waiting makes us rich,
And not that which we prayed for; nay it makes
Us tenfold richer than that could: it is
A real, a during Good for life, but this
Is oft a fancied, fleeting one—then see,
My Heart, how much God does for our sole sakes,
And let thy Gratitude proportioned be;
Do for his Sake the Good and Godlike, so
Pure and sublime the true Godlike thou'lt feel and know!
12
Takes not to himself, but returns to thee!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |