 | Poems |  |
55
THE QUESTION
Father, beneath the moonless night,
This heavy stillness without light,
There comes a thought which I must speak:
Why is my body then so weak?
Why do I falter in the race,
And flag behind this mighty pace?
Why is my strength so quickly flown?
And hark! my mother sobs alone.
This heavy stillness without light,
There comes a thought which I must speak:
Why is my body then so weak?
Why do I falter in the race,
And flag behind this mighty pace?
Why is my strength so quickly flown?
And hark! my mother sobs alone.
My son, when I was young and free,
When I was filled with sap and glee,
I squandered here and there my strength,
And to thy mother's arms at length
Weary I came, and over tired;
With fever all my bones were fired:
Therefore so soon thy strength is flown,
Therefore thy mother sobs alone.
When I was filled with sap and glee,
I squandered here and there my strength,
And to thy mother's arms at length
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With fever all my bones were fired:
Therefore so soon thy strength is flown,
Therefore thy mother sobs alone.
Father, since in your weaker thought,
And in your languor I was wrought,
Put me away as creatures are;
I am infirm and filled with care.
Feebly you brought me to the light,
Ah, gently hide me out of sight!
Then sooner will my strength be flown,
Nor will my mother sob alone.
And in your languor I was wrought,
Put me away as creatures are;
I am infirm and filled with care.
Feebly you brought me to the light,
Ah, gently hide me out of sight!
Then sooner will my strength be flown,
Nor will my mother sob alone.
My son, stir up the fire, and pass
Quickly the comfortable glass!
The infirm and evil fly in vain
Is toiling up the window pane.
Fill up, for life is so, nor sigh;
We cannot run from Destiny.
Then cheer thy strength that's quickly flown.
Ah, how thy mother sobs alone!
Quickly the comfortable glass!
The infirm and evil fly in vain
Is toiling up the window pane.
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We cannot run from Destiny.
Then cheer thy strength that's quickly flown.
Ah, how thy mother sobs alone!
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