 | Poems by Three Friends |  |
115
ODE ON HUMAN LIFE.
Life, what uncertainties are thine!
Thy path, how varied is its scene!
Now bright the beams of pleasure shine,
And all is tranquil and serene;
And now the storm
Begins to rise
In awful form;—
Across the skies
Clouds roll on clouds, and light'nings flash between.
Thy path, how varied is its scene!
Now bright the beams of pleasure shine,
And all is tranquil and serene;
And now the storm
Begins to rise
In awful form;—
Across the skies
Clouds roll on clouds, and light'nings flash between.
116
I have not travelled far indeed
Along thy wild and rugged way,
Yet have I often found the need
Of caution in the brightest day;
When o'er my head
The morning smil'd,
But dark and dread,
With howlings wild,
The night came on in gusts and elemental fray.
Along thy wild and rugged way,
Yet have I often found the need
Of caution in the brightest day;
When o'er my head
The morning smil'd,
But dark and dread,
With howlings wild,
The night came on in gusts and elemental fray.
Then have I said in deep despair,
“No more I'll trust the sunshine hour,
“But when 'tis most serene and fair,
“Then I'll expect the storm to lower;
“But when the rain
“And winds annoy,
“I'll smile again,
“And wake to joy,
“For soon the storm will cease,—'tis but a passing shower.”
“No more I'll trust the sunshine hour,
“But when 'tis most serene and fair,
“Then I'll expect the storm to lower;
“But when the rain
“And winds annoy,
“I'll smile again,
“And wake to joy,
“For soon the storm will cease,—'tis but a passing shower.”
117
Soon the last beating shower will fall,
And soon the final tempest blow,
Heaven's latest thunder soon appal,
And the last vivid light'nings glow;
Sunshine and shower,
And night and day,
In that dread hour,
Shall pass away,
And pleasure's earth-born smile, and sublunary woe.
And soon the final tempest blow,
Heaven's latest thunder soon appal,
And the last vivid light'nings glow;
Sunshine and shower,
And night and day,
In that dread hour,
Shall pass away,
And pleasure's earth-born smile, and sublunary woe.
Though now the tempest's wrath I feel,
Though adverse winds my path molest,
I have a friend my wounds can heal,
And make e'en dark affliction blest.
With him I'll go
Through life's long way,
Mid scenes of woe,
To endless day,
To realms where former toils, shall only sweeten rest.
Though adverse winds my path molest,
I have a friend my wounds can heal,
And make e'en dark affliction blest.
With him I'll go
Through life's long way,
Mid scenes of woe,
To endless day,
To realms where former toils, shall only sweeten rest.
118
Serener skies shall there be mine,
And fairer scenes my eyes employ,
Around me purer light shall shine,
And every pulse shall beat with joy.
In heavenly dreams
Will pass my hours,
By living streams,
In fragrant bowers,
Where clouds ne'er rise to shade, nor tempests to destroy.
And fairer scenes my eyes employ,
Around me purer light shall shine,
And every pulse shall beat with joy.
In heavenly dreams
Will pass my hours,
By living streams,
In fragrant bowers,
Where clouds ne'er rise to shade, nor tempests to destroy.
| Poems by Three Friends | |