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7
The Winter Birthday.
Rimy webs are on the thistles,
Silver-clad comes forth the morn,
Near and shrill the blackbird whistles
On the scarlet-berried thorn.
Silver-clad comes forth the morn,
Near and shrill the blackbird whistles
On the scarlet-berried thorn.
Then with silent blinding fall
In the eddies of the breeze
Weave the clouds their mighty pall
For the old year's obsequies.
In the eddies of the breeze
Weave the clouds their mighty pall
For the old year's obsequies.
Then the mould'ring fog comes round
With the South-wind's sickly breath,
Drops the wood with dismal sound,
Dropping to the sod beneath.
With the South-wind's sickly breath,
Drops the wood with dismal sound,
Dropping to the sod beneath.
Every place is chill and raw,
Dreary winds moan as they go;
Rivers, swollen with the thaw,
Roll their sands, and overflow.
Dreary winds moan as they go;
Rivers, swollen with the thaw,
Roll their sands, and overflow.
8
Yet it seemeth but a day
Since the summer flowers were here,
Since they stacked the balmy hay,
Since they reaped the golden ear.
Since the summer flowers were here,
Since they stacked the balmy hay,
Since they reaped the golden ear.
It hath gone—the glorious summer;
So the years go, speeding past,
Onward, onward,—each new comer
Swifter speeding than the last.
So the years go, speeding past,
Onward, onward,—each new comer
Swifter speeding than the last.
Can thy life no semblance borrow
From the passing of the years;
Peace to-day, and strife to-morrow,—
Day of hope, and night of tears?
From the passing of the years;
Peace to-day, and strife to-morrow,—
Day of hope, and night of tears?
On the ocean of existence
Waves of change for ever roll;—
Waves that, echoing thro' all distance,
Speak in thunder to the soul.
Waves of change for ever roll;—
Waves that, echoing thro' all distance,
Speak in thunder to the soul.
For the seasons, as they go,
Are the shades of human things,
Changing with a ceaseless flow,
Constant in their varyings.
Are the shades of human things,
Changing with a ceaseless flow,
Constant in their varyings.
Said I, ‘change’? Yea, such as storm
Sweeping over ocean's face
Maketh in earth's mighty form
Travelling onward into space.
Sweeping over ocean's face
Maketh in earth's mighty form
Travelling onward into space.
9
What is that to those who live?
Life is something higher far.
‘Change’! the name I'd sooner give
To the tremblings of a star!
Life is something higher far.
‘Change’! the name I'd sooner give
To the tremblings of a star!
Said I ‘change’? Nay, let the blast
Stir the surface as it may,
Still the soul, like planet vast,
Holdeth steadfast on its way.
Stir the surface as it may,
Still the soul, like planet vast,
Holdeth steadfast on its way.
That is Life which never ends;—
Brother, such have thou for thine;—
Road that on and onward wends,
Vast eternal discipline.
Brother, such have thou for thine;—
Road that on and onward wends,
Vast eternal discipline.
Scorn upon the idle mind
Dwelling in the things without,
Passive to the veering wind
That tosses empty ships about.
Dwelling in the things without,
Passive to the veering wind
That tosses empty ships about.
Seize the helm with dauntless will,
Cleave the waves that round thee roar;
Storm or sunshine, onward still
Cleave them straightly evermore.
Cleave the waves that round thee roar;
Storm or sunshine, onward still
Cleave them straightly evermore.
Touch thou with a rod of power
That which passeth day by day;
Bid the fortune of the hour
Thy calm even will obey.
That which passeth day by day;
Bid the fortune of the hour
Thy calm even will obey.
10
All events that men call chance,
All things thou dost see and feel,
All the might of circumstance,—
Wrest them strongly to thy weal.
All things thou dost see and feel,
All the might of circumstance,—
Wrest them strongly to thy weal.
Tho' the outward things around thee
Be but partly understood,
Let their presence not confound thee,—
Bend them to thy endless good.
Be but partly understood,
Let their presence not confound thee,—
Bend them to thy endless good.
So the changes, swiftly hasting,
So the chief events of life,
Transient joys, and sorrows lasting,
Peaceful calm, and passion's strife,—
So the chief events of life,
Transient joys, and sorrows lasting,
Peaceful calm, and passion's strife,—
All shall come as comes the snow,
All shall like the sun-ray die,
For thy soul doth truly know
These have no eternity.
All shall like the sun-ray die,
For thy soul doth truly know
These have no eternity.
But they have a voice in going,
Like the day that passeth o'er,
And their tide in its back-flowing
Leaves its gifts of heavenly lore.
Like the day that passeth o'er,
And their tide in its back-flowing
Leaves its gifts of heavenly lore.
Brother! oh! be this our Life,
True and earnest, deep and strong,
Far above the world's vain strife
Cleaving steadfastly along.
True and earnest, deep and strong,
Far above the world's vain strife
Cleaving steadfastly along.
11
Be it such that, when earth's day
With its hasty work is done,
All of ill shall fall away,
And the life shall still live on!
With its hasty work is done,
All of ill shall fall away,
And the life shall still live on!
(1845.)
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