Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

There was a time—too long ago,
When I shrank away from the touch of wo,
When filled with joy was my tearless eye,
And my lip poured its artless melody—
A gush of laughter and gladsome sounds,
As I strayed'mongst the flowering garden grounds;
Fearlessly did I stray,
Thoughtlessly, thoughtlessly gay.

Thoughtlessly gay, as I sadly deemed
In after-seasons, when pondering dreamed
Mine altered spirit of all the past,
To shadow and silence for ever cast—
Till I turned away my sorrowing eye
From the wizard glass of memory,
No more, alas! to laugh and play,
Thoughtlessly, thoughtlessly gay!

But a gleam of hope returned again,
And lightened through all my heart and brain;
And I cherished that young bloom of delight,
Till it shone all freshly fair and bright;
Then I felt I had far too wildly mourned,
And my wayward glance desponding turned
From blessings life still had,
Thoughtlessly, thoughtlessly sad!

And there came a deeper after-thought,
That through my spirit intensely wrought:
Lo! the wild birds pass the stormiest waves—
There's a hand that guides and a hand that saves;
And shall I, reckless and hopeless, dare
To yield my spirit to burdening care?
No! no! I may not be so mad,
Thoughtlessly, oh, too thoughtlessly sad!