The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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MAN'S LIFE. |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
229
MAN'S LIFE.
I'll sing no more of cheerful things,
My lyre shall mourn in pensive strain,
The muse with tears shall wet her wings,
And with her feeble voice complain:
Grief shall her future hours employ—
No more her features shine with joy;
Each day and night will I declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
My lyre shall mourn in pensive strain,
The muse with tears shall wet her wings,
And with her feeble voice complain:
Grief shall her future hours employ—
No more her features shine with joy;
Each day and night will I declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
Through every stage of life, what woe!
What various forms can sorrow take!
Pleasures may charm an hour or so,
But sorrows ever are awake!
Even infants, weeping at their birth,
As if they feared the ills of earth,
In feeble plaintive cries declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
What various forms can sorrow take!
Pleasures may charm an hour or so,
But sorrows ever are awake!
Even infants, weeping at their birth,
As if they feared the ills of earth,
In feeble plaintive cries declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
How oft we see the young at play
Sore grieved and weeping o'er their toys;
E'en in the morning of their day
Are sorrows blended with their joys:
Then 'tis best to take the cup,
With resignation drink it up,
Since of this truth we're well aware,
Man's little life's a life of care!
Sore grieved and weeping o'er their toys;
E'en in the morning of their day
Are sorrows blended with their joys:
Then 'tis best to take the cup,
With resignation drink it up,
Since of this truth we're well aware,
Man's little life's a life of care!
230
The youth on love's strong pinions soars
Far—far beyond what he can gain,
And sees the nymph his soul adores,
Reject him, heedless of his pain;
While she must feel love's painful dart,
From one who slights her in his heart.
Thus, disappointed youths declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
Far—far beyond what he can gain,
And sees the nymph his soul adores,
Reject him, heedless of his pain;
While she must feel love's painful dart,
From one who slights her in his heart.
Thus, disappointed youths declare—
Man's little life's a life of care!
Where is the busy tradesman's peace,
When losses after losses come?
His rising family increase,
And ruin hastens to his home.
O'ercome with grief, he sits and sighs,
Broods o'er his sorrows in despair,
Then, weeping, to his partner cries—
Man's little life's a life of care!
When losses after losses come?
His rising family increase,
And ruin hastens to his home.
O'ercome with grief, he sits and sighs,
Broods o'er his sorrows in despair,
Then, weeping, to his partner cries—
Man's little life's a life of care!
The sire, upon his crutches stayed,
Weakened by age, disease, and pain;
His grey locks tott'ring on his head,
Declares the joys of earth are vain!
His joyless nights are spent in sighs,
His hearing lost, and dim his eyes:
No hopes of shortest pleasure here,
He dies—and leaves a life of care!
Weakened by age, disease, and pain;
His grey locks tott'ring on his head,
Declares the joys of earth are vain!
His joyless nights are spent in sighs,
His hearing lost, and dim his eyes:
No hopes of shortest pleasure here,
He dies—and leaves a life of care!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |