 | Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) |  |
I.
I looked within the colorless face, last night,
Of one for whom life promised, when he went,
The alluring fruit of rich accomplishment—
One dowered to find rare favor in the sight
Of all who set their spirits toward the light;
One molded to be nobly eminent.
Yet ah! that in this great sweet heart should glide
The subtle and fatal curse, too late espied!..
He pressed the pistol to his brow, and died!
Of one for whom life promised, when he went,
The alluring fruit of rich accomplishment—
One dowered to find rare favor in the sight
Of all who set their spirits toward the light;
One molded to be nobly eminent.
Yet ah! that in this great sweet heart should glide
The subtle and fatal curse, too late espied!..
He pressed the pistol to his brow, and died!
I meet amid my walk, from day to day,
A little faded man, low-bowed with years.
From him time's tyrannies, that disdain men's tears,
Health, kindred, wealth and friends have stolen away.
And yet to its hopeless aching crumbling clay
His tired-out soul with stubborn clutch adheres.
O human life! thou sphinx, whose haughty will
Forever through the ages gives us still
These baffling riddles that we solve so ill!
A little faded man, low-bowed with years.
From him time's tyrannies, that disdain men's tears,
Health, kindred, wealth and friends have stolen away.
And yet to its hopeless aching crumbling clay
His tired-out soul with stubborn clutch adheres.
O human life! thou sphinx, whose haughty will
Forever through the ages gives us still
These baffling riddles that we solve so ill!
| Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) | |