 | Reverberations |  |
118
SUNRISE.
True it is that cloud and mist
Blot the clear blue weather;
True that lips that once have kist
Come no more together.
Blot the clear blue weather;
True that lips that once have kist
Come no more together.
True that when we would do good,
Evil often follows;
True that green leaves quit the wood,
Summers lose their swallows.
Evil often follows;
True that green leaves quit the wood,
Summers lose their swallows.
True that man his queen awaits,
True that, sad and lonely,
Woman through her prison grates
Sees her tyrant only.
True that, sad and lonely,
Woman through her prison grates
Sees her tyrant only.
True the rich despise the poor,
And the poor desire
Food still from the rich man's door,
Fuel from his fire.
And the poor desire
Food still from the rich man's door,
Fuel from his fire.
119
True that, in this age of ours,
There are none to guide us,
Gone the grand primæval powers!
Selfish aims divide us.
There are none to guide us,
Gone the grand primæval powers!
Selfish aims divide us.
True the plaint, but, if more true,
I would not deplore it.
If an Eden fade from view,
Time may yet restore it.
I would not deplore it.
If an Eden fade from view,
Time may yet restore it.
Evil comes and evil goes,
But it moves me never;
For the Good, the Good, it grows,
Buds and blossoms ever.
But it moves me never;
For the Good, the Good, it grows,
Buds and blossoms ever.
Winter still succeeds to Spring,
But fresh Springs are coming,
Blither birds are on the wing,
Brighter bees are humming.
But fresh Springs are coming,
Blither birds are on the wing,
Brighter bees are humming.
I have loved with right good will,
Mourned my hopes departed,
Dreamed my golden dream, and still
Am not broken-hearted.
Mourned my hopes departed,
Dreamed my golden dream, and still
Am not broken-hearted.
What if cherished creeds must fade,
Faith will never leave us;
Light still falls where falls the shade,
Nor can Truth deceive us;
Faith will never leave us;
Light still falls where falls the shade,
Nor can Truth deceive us;
120
Let in light, the holy light;
Brothers! fear it never.
Darkness smiles, and wrong grows right—
Let in light for ever.
Brothers! fear it never.
Darkness smiles, and wrong grows right—
Let in light for ever.
Let in light—when this shall be
Joy at once and duty,
Men in common things shall see
Goodness, truth, and beauty:
Joy at once and duty,
Men in common things shall see
Goodness, truth, and beauty:
And, as noble Plato sings—
Hear it, lords and ladies—
We shall love and praise the things
That are down in Hades.
Hear it, lords and ladies—
We shall love and praise the things
That are down in Hades.
Glad am I, and glad will be,
For my heart rejoices,
When sweet looks and lips I see,
When I hear sweet voices.
For my heart rejoices,
When sweet looks and lips I see,
When I hear sweet voices.
I will hope, and work, and love,
Singing to the hours,
While the stars are bright above,
And below the flowers.
Singing to the hours,
While the stars are bright above,
And below the flowers.
Apple-blossoms on the trees,
Goldcups in the meadows,
Branches waving in the breeze,
On the grass their shadows:
Goldcups in the meadows,
Branches waving in the breeze,
On the grass their shadows:
121
Blackbirds whistling in the wood,
Cuckoos shouting o'er us,
Clouds, in white or crimson hood,
Pacing slow before us:
Cuckoos shouting o'er us,
Clouds, in white or crimson hood,
Pacing slow before us:
Who, in such a world as this,
Could not heal his sorrow?
Welcome this sweet sunset-bliss!
Sunrise comes to-morrow.
Could not heal his sorrow?
Welcome this sweet sunset-bliss!
Sunrise comes to-morrow.
| Reverberations | |