 | Later Lyrics |  |
62
THE DARKENED HOUSE.
One year ago this dreary night,
This house, that in my way
Checks the swift pulses of delight,
Was cordial glad, and gay.
This house, that in my way
Checks the swift pulses of delight,
Was cordial glad, and gay.
The household angels tended there
Their ivy-cinctured bower,
And by the hardier plant grew fair
A lovely lily-flower.
Their ivy-cinctured bower,
And by the hardier plant grew fair
A lovely lily-flower.
The skies rained sunshine on its head,
It throve in summer air:
“How straight and sound!” the father said;
The mother said, “How fair!”
It throve in summer air:
“How straight and sound!” the father said;
The mother said, “How fair!”
63
One little year is gathering up
Its glories to depart;
The skies have left one marble drop
Within the lily's heart.
Its glories to depart;
The skies have left one marble drop
Within the lily's heart.
For growth and bloom no more avails
The Seasons' changing breath:
Fixed in sad constancy, it feels
The sculpture-touch of Death.
The Seasons' changing breath:
Fixed in sad constancy, it feels
The sculpture-touch of Death.
But from its breast let golden rays,
Immortal, break and rise,
Linking the sorrow-clouded days
With dawning paradise.
Immortal, break and rise,
Linking the sorrow-clouded days
With dawning paradise.
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