Ballads for the Times (Now first collected,) Geraldine, A Modern Pyramid, Bartenus, A Thousand Lines, and other poems. By Martin F. Tupper. A new Edition, enlarged and revised |
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 | Ballads for the Times |  |
Hast thou not seen, world-weary man,
Life's poor pilgrim white and wan,—
A gentle beauty for the cheek
Which nothing gives but sorrow,
A sweet expression, soft and weak,
Joy can never borrow?
Where lingering on the pale wet face
The rival tears run their slow race
Each in its wonted furrow;
And patience, eloquently meek,
From the threaten'd stroke unshrinking,
In mild boldness can but speak
The burden of its sadden'd thinking,—
“Dreary as to-day has been,
And sad and cheerless yestereen,
'Twill dawn as dark to-morrow!”
Life's poor pilgrim white and wan,—
A gentle beauty for the cheek
Which nothing gives but sorrow,
A sweet expression, soft and weak,
Joy can never borrow?
Where lingering on the pale wet face
The rival tears run their slow race
Each in its wonted furrow;
332
From the threaten'd stroke unshrinking,
In mild boldness can but speak
The burden of its sadden'd thinking,—
“Dreary as to-day has been,
And sad and cheerless yestereen,
'Twill dawn as dark to-morrow!”
| Ballads for the Times | |