Lines in Pleasant Places Rhythmics of many moods and quantities. Wise and otherwise |
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TRIBUTARY VERSES, |
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 | Lines in Pleasant Places |  |
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TRIBUTARY VERSES,
[To H. A. M'Glenen on the twentieth anniversary of his marriage, November 29, 1869.]
A happy sign it is, I wis,
Where, as at seasons such as this,
The feelings glow with primal bliss,
And love, most true,
Asserts itself, with vow and kiss,
As good as new.
Where, as at seasons such as this,
The feelings glow with primal bliss,
And love, most true,
Asserts itself, with vow and kiss,
As good as new.
Such pauses are like stages passed,
And seated in life's shade, to cast
Our backward glance where, far and fast,
Our steps have sped,
We brave untried the Future, vast,
Without a dread.
And seated in life's shade, to cast
Our backward glance where, far and fast,
Our steps have sped,
We brave untried the Future, vast,
Without a dread.
Marriage, when “rightly understood,”
Old Cotton sang, is full of good;
And yours is proof that hath withstood
The timely test,
And now, in ripe beatitude,
It beams the best.
Old Cotton sang, is full of good;
And yours is proof that hath withstood
The timely test,
And now, in ripe beatitude,
It beams the best.
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Happy are they who thus restore
The time that's past, and live once more
In joys that strewed their path before,
In love's first state;
Enough there are who'd this ignore,
And clean the slate.
The time that's past, and live once more
In joys that strewed their path before,
In love's first state;
Enough there are who'd this ignore,
And clean the slate.
And yet, that time of twenty years
In most momentous guise appears,
Marked with its varied hopes and fears,
And joy and woe;
But banished have been clouds and tears
In love's bright glow.
In most momentous guise appears,
Marked with its varied hopes and fears,
And joy and woe;
But banished have been clouds and tears
In love's bright glow.
I know the story all by heart,
And know that she, your better part,
Has, by the charm of woman's art,
As you'll allow,—
Enhanced life's joy and eased its smart,
As she knew how.
And know that she, your better part,
Has, by the charm of woman's art,
As you'll allow,—
Enhanced life's joy and eased its smart,
As she knew how.
We all the lesson well are taught
That our endeavors are as nought,
Unless, with loving kindness fraught,
She gives her powers
Of gentle care and tender thought
To soften ours.
That our endeavors are as nought,
Unless, with loving kindness fraught,
She gives her powers
Of gentle care and tender thought
To soften ours.
These give the home its joyous zest,
These crown the life with blissful rest,
These soothe the busy, burdened breast
To tranquil peace,
And cares, the soul might else infest,
Forever cease.
These crown the life with blissful rest,
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To tranquil peace,
And cares, the soul might else infest,
Forever cease.
And I am of the fact assured,
That, taking things as they occurred,
The fun enjoyed, the ills endured,
In time that's flown,
A good return you have secured—
The best one known
That, taking things as they occurred,
The fun enjoyed, the ills endured,
In time that's flown,
A good return you have secured—
The best one known
With children gathered round your chair,
A wife your loving thoughts to share,
And friends in multitude most rare,
And honest fame,
In life's great bowl you hold a “spare,”
And win the game.
A wife your loving thoughts to share,
And friends in multitude most rare,
And honest fame,
In life's great bowl you hold a “spare,”
And win the game.
And thus, upon your festal night,
While happiness is burning bright,
My spirit to your side takes flight,
On viewless wings,
And o'er the scene of love and light
A blessing flings.
While happiness is burning bright,
My spirit to your side takes flight,
On viewless wings,
And o'er the scene of love and light
A blessing flings.
| Lines in Pleasant Places | |