 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
385
TO ONE DEPARTED.
Thou'rt gathered like a shock of corn
For the eternal harvest—Lo!
A few years since thou wert not born,
A few more—none thy name shall know!
For the eternal harvest—Lo!
A few years since thou wert not born,
A few more—none thy name shall know!
So is it with the race of man,
Well may we say he passeth soon,
His troubled days are but a span—
His breath a vain and fleeting boon.
Well may we say he passeth soon,
His troubled days are but a span—
His breath a vain and fleeting boon.
We pass each other on the race,
One falls—the others struggle on,
We ever take each other's place,
Nor think on those who are past and gone.
One falls—the others struggle on,
We ever take each other's place,
Nor think on those who are past and gone.
386
Yes!—where they trod we careless tread,
Inheriting the world from them,
Successors of those shrouded Dead
Whom to oblivion we condemn.
Inheriting the world from them,
Successors of those shrouded Dead
Whom to oblivion we condemn.
Millions have died to give us place,
But we need pity not their lot,
Once dead—they live throughout all space,
We dying, live on one small spot!
But we need pity not their lot,
Once dead—they live throughout all space,
We dying, live on one small spot!
For day by day we're dying still,
And waning on unto the end,
No strength, no science, and no skill,
Can from the eternal Foe defend.
And waning on unto the end,
No strength, no science, and no skill,
Can from the eternal Foe defend.
And thou hast joined that countless host
Who have departed from the Earth,
Thou art among the many lost
Who leave no record of their birth.
Who have departed from the Earth,
Thou art among the many lost
Who leave no record of their birth.
387
But whilst I yet am spared to breathe,
In thoughtful prayers thy name beloved,
Thou shalt remembered be beneath,
Though far beyond all dreams removed!
In thoughtful prayers thy name beloved,
Thou shalt remembered be beneath,
Though far beyond all dreams removed!
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