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Original, serious, and religious poetry

by the Rev. Richard Cobbold

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
  
 VII. 
  
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
REFLECTION X.
 XI. 
  
 XII. 
  
  
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
  
 XV. 
 XVI. 
  
 XVII. 
  
  
  
  
 XVIII. 
  
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 XX. 
 XXI. 
  
  
 XXII. 
  
 XXIII. 
  
 XXIV. 
  
  
  
 XXV. 
  
  
  
  
  
 XXVI. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


29

REFLECTION X.

Men mortals, heroes, tell me if in life,
A blessing can be greater than a wife,
Kind, fond, and faithful, watchful of thy good,
Pure, mild, and gentle; one who never would
For love of life, for love of ought but thee,
Consent to dwell in blissful unity.
The eagle soars, the early lark the same,
The nightingale, the robin red breast tame,
The linnet, goldfinch, blackbird, mistle thrush,
The sparrow, wood lark, reed bird of the rush;
All who take wing enjoy their native air;
But none fly free from danger or from care.

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The dove sits cooing in her ivy shade,
The little wren flits lightly o'er the glade:
The pigeon flies; the pecker of the tree;
Just like a vessel o'er a stormy sea;
Now rising high, now sweeping in the curve,
Sinking and tow'ring. All who live preserve,
Their lives in harmony, in happy pairs,
Instinctive nature; sympathy is theirs.
But man; aye men whom God and nature love,
May be more happy tenants of the grove,
If spirit be within them, they may be
On earth expecting their felicity—
Do they but love, in soul; they may in life,
Be thankful, grateful for a loving wife.