 | [Poems by Whittier in] A Study of Whittier's Apprenticeship as a Poet |  |
LINES ON THE NEW YEAR
'Tis over now—time's wreck-strewn wave,
Hath closed upon a year
Its deep and unrefunding grave,
Whence nought can reappear;
And thou deep, solemn midnight bell,
Art tolling now its funeral knell.
Hath closed upon a year
Its deep and unrefunding grave,
Whence nought can reappear;
And thou deep, solemn midnight bell,
Art tolling now its funeral knell.
[OMITTED]
High thrilling hopes, too fondly known,
Have with that sound expired;
And rainbow dreams of life have flown,
That erst the bosom fired;
Visions that hit the opening year
Have fled and left but darkness here.
Have with that sound expired;
And rainbow dreams of life have flown,
That erst the bosom fired;
167
Have fled and left but darkness here.
[OMITTED]
Thou coming year, could I obtain
The power to look on thee,
Thy chequered path—thy hours of pain—
Thy gloom and doubt to see,
I would not lift the veil that lies
Upon thy hidden mysteries.
The power to look on thee,
Thy chequered path—thy hours of pain—
Thy gloom and doubt to see,
I would not lift the veil that lies
Upon thy hidden mysteries.
No! by thy path in brightness drest,
Or wrapt in cloud and storm,
Beyond its power the eye can rest
On hope's celestial form,
High, pointing to a happier clime,
Impervious to the storms of time!
Or wrapt in cloud and storm,
Beyond its power the eye can rest
On hope's celestial form,
High, pointing to a happier clime,
Impervious to the storms of time!
Then, coming year! I welcome thee,
And all that thou may'st bring;
Though few the joys that rest on me,
From off thy passing wing.
I will not murmur, while I know,
Fate strikes no undeserved blow.
And all that thou may'st bring;
Though few the joys that rest on me,
From off thy passing wing.
I will not murmur, while I know,
Fate strikes no undeserved blow.
Stanzas 1, 3, 8, 9, 10 Haverhill Gazette, January 19, 1828
| [Poems by Whittier in] A Study of Whittier's Apprenticeship as a Poet | |