 | Landmarks and other poems |  |
22
THE FORGOTTEN WELL.
By the old high road I find,
(The weeds their story tell,)
With fallen curb and fill'd with stones,
A long-forgotten well.
(The weeds their story tell,)
With fallen curb and fill'd with stones,
A long-forgotten well.
The chimney, crumbling near,
A mute historian stands,
Of human joy and human woe—
Far, faded fireside bands!
A mute historian stands,
Of human joy and human woe—
Far, faded fireside bands!
Here still the apple blows
Its bloom of rose-lit snow;
The rose-tree bless'd some gentle hands
With roses, long ago.
Its bloom of rose-lit snow;
The rose-tree bless'd some gentle hands
With roses, long ago.
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I can not choose but dream
Of all thy good foredone;
Old alms-giver, thy gifts once more
Show diamonds in the sun!
Of all thy good foredone;
Old alms-giver, thy gifts once more
Show diamonds in the sun!
From yonder vanish'd home,
Blithe children therein born;
The mother with her crowing babe;
The grandsire palsy-worn;
Blithe children therein born;
The mother with her crowing babe;
The grandsire palsy-worn;
Strong men, whose weighted limbs
Falter through dust and heat;
Lithe youths in dreamland sowing deeds;
Shy maidens blushing sweet;
Falter through dust and heat;
Lithe youths in dreamland sowing deeds;
Shy maidens blushing sweet;
The reaper from his sheaves;
The mower from his hay—
These take thy freshness in their hearts,
And pass—my dream—away!
The mower from his hay—
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And pass—my dream—away!
Forgotten by the throng,
Uncared for and unknown,
None seek thee through the wood of weeds
Neglect has slowly sown.
Uncared for and unknown,
None seek thee through the wood of weeds
Neglect has slowly sown.
Yet, under all, thou'rt there—
Exhaustless, pure, and cold—
If but the sunshine came to see;
The fountain ne'er grows old!
Exhaustless, pure, and cold—
If but the sunshine came to see;
The fountain ne'er grows old!
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