 | The silver bridge and other poems |  |
119
AT FOURSCORE.
Few men achieve the life by Heaven intended—
Few die the late calm death by nature meant;
Yet with this wintry day is calmly ended
A life which, holding nothing strange or splendid,
Reached the ideal in fulness and extent.
Few die the late calm death by nature meant;
Yet with this wintry day is calmly ended
A life which, holding nothing strange or splendid,
Reached the ideal in fulness and extent.
His was a genial soul, that loved to render
Kindness for coldness still, and good for guile;
As buds unclose to meet the sunshine's splendor,
His warm heart opened, flower-like and tender,
To love's fond touch, or friendship's word and smile.
Kindness for coldness still, and good for guile;
As buds unclose to meet the sunshine's splendor,
His warm heart opened, flower-like and tender,
To love's fond touch, or friendship's word and smile.
No loud majorities his praises sounded,
No proud successes made him eminent,
But children loved him; all his life abounded
In kindly deeds; his fourscore years were rounded
With well-done duties and serene content.
No proud successes made him eminent,
But children loved him; all his life abounded
In kindly deeds; his fourscore years were rounded
With well-done duties and serene content.
No death more blest could be to mortal given;
Love watched the loosing of the silver cord—
And when the golden bowl was gently riven,
Without a pang, exchanging earth for heaven,
The faithful servant went to his reward.
Love watched the loosing of the silver cord—
120
Without a pang, exchanging earth for heaven,
The faithful servant went to his reward.
And though by no proud marble's sculptured masses
The story of his blameless life is told,
The frozen sods will wake, when winter passes,
And dandelions bright, and tender grasses
Will broider all his bed with green and gold.
The story of his blameless life is told,
The frozen sods will wake, when winter passes,
And dandelions bright, and tender grasses
Will broider all his bed with green and gold.
| The silver bridge and other poems | |