 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
THE EXCUSE.
Yes! thou must think me wayward—wild—
And weak and helpless as a child!
But could'st thou—could'st thou know
How oft, when thou dost wondering chide,
And try in vain kind arts oft tried,
To soothe and calm my woe—
And weak and helpless as a child!
But could'st thou—could'st thou know
How oft, when thou dost wondering chide,
And try in vain kind arts oft tried,
To soothe and calm my woe—
My mind heaves like some struggling Sea,
Where storms career unchecked and free—
And urge it at their will!
Billows 'gainst billows battling there,
As though of some dread foe aware,
Yet idly wrestling still!
Where storms career unchecked and free—
And urge it at their will!
Billows 'gainst billows battling there,
As though of some dread foe aware,
Yet idly wrestling still!
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Oft, oft, when thou dost gently strive
Kind Consolation's balm to give,
My thoughts too wildly roll;
Conflicting Inspirations meet,
With all their powers, the stern and sweet,
And toss my very Soul!
Kind Consolation's balm to give,
My thoughts too wildly roll;
Conflicting Inspirations meet,
With all their powers, the stern and sweet,
And toss my very Soul!
Then many and many a dream o'erwrought,
Swells—sweeps, and dies upon my Thought,
Which words can ne'er detain;
And then with pained and panting breath,
I seem to share each Dream's rich death,
Yet wake to life again!
Swells—sweeps, and dies upon my Thought,
Which words can ne'er detain;
And then with pained and panting breath,
I seem to share each Dream's rich death,
Yet wake to life again!
And could'st thou know—Oh! could'st thou know
How gladly I would 'scape that woe,
And shun that tempest's power;
Yet more would'st thou in love essay
To bring back to my stormy Day
Serenity's sweet hour!
How gladly I would 'scape that woe,
And shun that tempest's power;
Yet more would'st thou in love essay
To bring back to my stormy Day
Serenity's sweet hour!
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