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University of Virginia Library

Minor Poems, including Napoleon

By Bernard Barton. Second Edition, with Additions

Barton, Bernard (1784-1849)

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MINOR POEMS, INCLUDING NAPOLEON.

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TO JOHN BOWRING, ESQ. ON HIS TRANSLATION OF THE RUSSIAN ANTHOLOGY.

TO C. H. TOWNSEND, ON HIS VERSES TO THE SETTING SUN, INCLUDED IN THE VOLUME OF HIS POEMS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

STANZAS ON THE APPROACH OF WINTER.

SONNET, WRITTEN ON THE FIRST LEAF OF A VOLUME OF CHARLES LLOYD'S POETRY.

TO --- ---, ESQ.

TO THE AUTHOR OF “MAY YOU LIKE IT.”

TO MRS. HEMANS.

VERSES ON THE GATEWAY

THE RECANTATION; TO --- ---.

VERSES TO A CHILD TWO YEARS OLD.

DAYS OF DARKNESS.

THE POOL OF BETHESDA.

TO THE MEMORY OF EMMA FULLER.

EARLY RISING AND PRAYER.

THE TWELVE MONTHS OF HUMAN LIFE.

TO A DILATORY CORRESPONDENT.

TO A FRIEND, ON HIS DEPARTURE FOR ROME.

THE WALL-FLOWER.

ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

TO THE MEMORY OF THE AUTHOR'S FATHER.

TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM HEY.

WHAT IS LIFE?

ON THE RETURN OF SUMMER BIRDS.

ON A PORTRAIT OF BEATRICE CENCI:

TO A BUTTERFLY.

SMILES AND TEARS.

THE CONCLUSION.

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259

WHAT IS LIFE?

A cloudy day, lit up by transient gleams;
The fearful brightness of a shooting star;
The dazzling loveliness of fleeting dreams,
Which frowning phantoms in succession mar: —
Such, such is life!

A bowl which sparkles brightly at its brim,
But soon upon the sated palate palls;
A sun-bright view, which shadows quickly dim;
A strain — whose music on no echo falls: —
Such, such is life!

O for a state more glorious far than this!
Where mutability no more is known;
But souls redeem'd, partaking heavenly bliss,
With humble gratitude and praise may own
This, this is life!