 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
53
'TIS VAIN.
'Tis vain—it is in vain!
No more—'twill be no more!
Now let me force or feign
Peace that was mine before!
No more—'twill be no more!
Now let me force or feign
Peace that was mine before!
Lost—every hope is lost,
Each dream of joy is dust,
All that I cherished most,
Most has betrayed my trust!
Each dream of joy is dust,
All that I cherished most,
Most has betrayed my trust!
And yet I scarce know all
The depth of my despair,
At first the blow doth fall
With force too keen to bear!
The depth of my despair,
At first the blow doth fall
With force too keen to bear!
54
Stunned, deadened, scathed, and crushed,
At first the Soul remains
In hideous silence, hushed—
Bound as in icy chains!
At first the Soul remains
In hideous silence, hushed—
Bound as in icy chains!
Then slowly opens out
The prospect of its grief;
Nor leaves one dizzy doubt
To lend a faint relief.
The prospect of its grief;
Nor leaves one dizzy doubt
To lend a faint relief.
Then comes the mortal strife—
Life's passion-streams run o'er—
New powers seem lent to life,
To make the anguish more!
Life's passion-streams run o'er—
New powers seem lent to life,
To make the anguish more!
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