Old Year Leaves Being Old Verses Revised: By H. T. Mackenzie Bell ... New Edition |
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A LESSON IN THE GLOAMING. |
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 | Old Year Leaves |  |
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A LESSON IN THE GLOAMING.
One even of a summer's day
I walk scarce whither knowing,
Save by a river's side I stray
Where balmy winds are blowing.
I walk scarce whither knowing,
Save by a river's side I stray
Where balmy winds are blowing.
'Tis the loved hour of twilight's close,
When o'er the landscape stealing,
The last faint ray of sunset glows,
Its beauty half revealing.
When o'er the landscape stealing,
The last faint ray of sunset glows,
Its beauty half revealing.
Rich foliage hides the rippling stream
From the fair view completely,
And gently as in halcyon dream,
Its murmur softly, sweetly,
From the fair view completely,
And gently as in halcyon dream,
Its murmur softly, sweetly,
Comes zephyr-borne, as on I move
With light heart void of sadness,
Nor caring what to-morrow prove,
So that to-day be gladness.
With light heart void of sadness,
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So that to-day be gladness.
Sudden is heard the plash of oars,
A sense of pleasure bringing,—
While plaintively a rower pours
His soul thus out in singing:
A sense of pleasure bringing,—
While plaintively a rower pours
His soul thus out in singing:
In Summer's choicest day,
When round each fragrant spray
The blithesome breezes stray—
Ah, what delight!
But brightest days contain
The seeds of future pain,
And Winter comes again,
Their bliss to blight!
When round each fragrant spray
The blithesome breezes stray—
Ah, what delight!
But brightest days contain
The seeds of future pain,
And Winter comes again,
Their bliss to blight!
Not so the joys of Mind,
Unfathomed, unconfined,
They soar and leave behind
Trammels of Earth:—
They teach mankind to face
Both honour and disgrace,
And gain at last the Place
Which gave them birth.
Unfathomed, unconfined,
They soar and leave behind
Trammels of Earth:—
They teach mankind to face
Both honour and disgrace,
And gain at last the Place
Which gave them birth.
The boat sweeps on,—the words depart
In cadences alluring,—
But they have pierced my flippant heart,
And left a mark enduring.
In cadences alluring,—
But they have pierced my flippant heart,
And left a mark enduring.
| Old Year Leaves | |