 | Diana's Looking Glass and Other Poems by Charles D. Bell |  |
THE LOCUST-EATEN YEARS.
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.”
Joel, ii. 25.
Joel, ii. 25.
O words of wonder! What! restore the past,
Renew the olden days, the happy times,
The joys and pleasures that fled all too fast,
The hours that struck sweet music from their chimes?
Renew the olden days, the happy times,
The joys and pleasures that fled all too fast,
The hours that struck sweet music from their chimes?
Restore the trust in man that once we knew,
When no suspicion chilled or slew our love,
And all we met were good, and pure, and true,
Clear as the wave that glasses heaven above?
When no suspicion chilled or slew our love,
And all we met were good, and pure, and true,
Clear as the wave that glasses heaven above?
Restore the hope that threw a tender light
O'er the near future, and the distant years,
When life was full of fresh and sweet delight,
And held no hint of grief or bitter tears?
O'er the near future, and the distant years,
When life was full of fresh and sweet delight,
And held no hint of grief or bitter tears?
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Restore full-hearted love, which knew not yet
That coldness can repay affection's smile;
That lips can lightly promise, and forget
That 'neath the honied words lie cruel guile?
That coldness can repay affection's smile;
That lips can lightly promise, and forget
That 'neath the honied words lie cruel guile?
Oh, can it be, and shall I stand once more
In the full light of childhood's early spring,
When every hour some fresh enjoyment bore,
And sang the heart as birds in May-time sing?
In the full light of childhood's early spring,
When every hour some fresh enjoyment bore,
And sang the heart as birds in May-time sing?
Can even God to us the past restore,
Or cause the withered flower again to bloom,
The locust-eaten years give back once more,
Renewing joys long buried in the tomb?
Or cause the withered flower again to bloom,
The locust-eaten years give back once more,
Renewing joys long buried in the tomb?
'Tis even so—He can give back the years
By locusts eaten, fretted by the worm;
Can make us reap in joy who sowed in tears;
Can bring tranquillity from out the storm.
By locusts eaten, fretted by the worm;
Can make us reap in joy who sowed in tears;
Can bring tranquillity from out the storm.
The barren wastes shall blossom all with flowers,
And roses spring from out the arid sands:
Bright suns shall shine, and fall the tender showers,
And verdure crown with beauty all the lands.
And roses spring from out the arid sands:
Bright suns shall shine, and fall the tender showers,
And verdure crown with beauty all the lands.
Fear not; the floors shall all be full of wheat,
The vats shall overflow with ruddy wine,
And for the bitter God shall give the sweet,
And for the earthly grant us the Divine.
The vats shall overflow with ruddy wine,
And for the bitter God shall give the sweet,
And for the earthly grant us the Divine.
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Let us not cast regretful looks behind,
Rather believe God will the past restore,
That, when we enter heaven we shall find,
The years are ours again for evermore.
Rather believe God will the past restore,
That, when we enter heaven we shall find,
The years are ours again for evermore.
| Diana's Looking Glass and Other Poems by Charles D. Bell | |