 | Miscellaneous poems |  |
79
AFFECTION.
Touch'd by the magic hand of those we love,
A trifle will of consequence appear;
A flow'r, a blade of grass, a pin, a glove,
A scrap of paper will become most dear.
A trifle will of consequence appear;
A flow'r, a blade of grass, a pin, a glove,
A scrap of paper will become most dear.
And is that being happy, whose cold heart
Feels not, nor comprehends this source of joy?
To whom a trifle can no bliss impart,
Who throw them careless by, deface, destroy?
Feels not, nor comprehends this source of joy?
To whom a trifle can no bliss impart,
Who throw them careless by, deface, destroy?
Yes, they are happy; if the insensate rocks
Which the rude ocean beats, or softly laves,
Rejoice that are mov'd not by the shocks,
Which hurl full many to untimely graves.
Which the rude ocean beats, or softly laves,
Rejoice that are mov'd not by the shocks,
Which hurl full many to untimely graves.
80
Yes, they are happy; if the polish'd gem,
On which the sun in varied colours plays,
Rejoices that its lustre comes from him,
And glows delighted to reflect his rays.
On which the sun in varied colours plays,
Rejoices that its lustre comes from him,
And glows delighted to reflect his rays.
Not else.—Though hearts so exquisitely form'd,
Feel misery a thousand different ways;
Yet when by love or friendship's power warm'd,
One look, whole days of misery repays.
Feel misery a thousand different ways;
Yet when by love or friendship's power warm'd,
One look, whole days of misery repays.
One look, one word, one kind endearing smile,
Can from the mind each painful image blot:
The voice we love to hear can pain beguile,
List'ning the world beside is all forgot.
Can from the mind each painful image blot:
The voice we love to hear can pain beguile,
List'ning the world beside is all forgot.
Tho' sharp the pang which friendship slighted gives,
Tho' to the eye a tear may force its way:
The cause remov'd when hope again revives,
Light beats the heart, and cheerful smiles the day.
Tho' to the eye a tear may force its way:
81
Light beats the heart, and cheerful smiles the day.
True, when we're forc'd to part from those we love,
'Tis like the pang when soul and body's riven;
But when we meet, the spirit soars above,
And tastes the exquisite delights of heaven.
'Tis like the pang when soul and body's riven;
But when we meet, the spirit soars above,
And tastes the exquisite delights of heaven.
Mine be the feeling heart: for who would fear
To pass the dreary vale of death's abode,
If certain, at the end, they should be near
And feel the smile of a benignant God?
To pass the dreary vale of death's abode,
If certain, at the end, they should be near
And feel the smile of a benignant God?
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