Poems and Essays By the late William Caldwell Roscoe. (Edited with a Prefatory Memoir, by his Brother-in-law, Richard Holt Hutton) |
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23
OPPORTUNITY.
O Opportunity, thou gull o' the world!
That, being present, winnest but disdain,
So small thou seem'st; but once behind us whirled,
A grim phantasma, shadowest all the plain.
That, being present, winnest but disdain,
So small thou seem'st; but once behind us whirled,
A grim phantasma, shadowest all the plain.
Thou Parthian! that shoot'st thine arrows back,
Meeting our front with terror-feigning doles;
But often, turning on thy flying track,
With memory-winged shafts dost wound our souls.
Meeting our front with terror-feigning doles;
But often, turning on thy flying track,
With memory-winged shafts dost wound our souls.
Thou air! which breathing we do scarce perceive,
And think it little to enjoy the light;
But when the unvalued sun hath taken leave,
Darkly thou showest in the expanse of night.
And think it little to enjoy the light;
But when the unvalued sun hath taken leave,
Darkly thou showest in the expanse of night.
Thou all men's torment, no man's comforter,—
Lost Opportunity! that shut'st the door
On all unworked intentions, and dost stir
Their fretting ghosts to plague our heart's deep core.
Lost Opportunity! that shut'st the door
On all unworked intentions, and dost stir
Their fretting ghosts to plague our heart's deep core.
Thou sword of sharp Remorse, and sting of Time!
Passionate empoisoner of mortal tears!
Thou blaster of fresh Hope's recurring prime!
Crutch of Despair, and sustenance of fears!
Passionate empoisoner of mortal tears!
Thou blaster of fresh Hope's recurring prime!
Crutch of Despair, and sustenance of fears!
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But oh, to those that have the wit to use thee,
Thou glorious angel, clasped with golden wings,
Whereon he climbing that did rightly choose thee
Sees wondrous sights of unexpected things.
Thou glorious angel, clasped with golden wings,
Whereon he climbing that did rightly choose thee
Sees wondrous sights of unexpected things.
Thou instrument of never-dying fame
To those that snatch thy often-offered hilt;
To those that on the door can read thy name,
Thou residence of glory ready-built.
To those that snatch thy often-offered hilt;
To those that on the door can read thy name,
Thou residence of glory ready-built.
Used Opportunity! thou torch of Act,
And planted ladder to a high desire;
Thou one thing needful, making nothing lacked;
Thou spark unto a laid, unlighted, fire.
And planted ladder to a high desire;
Thou one thing needful, making nothing lacked;
Thou spark unto a laid, unlighted, fire.
Thou double-faced god and double-souled!
They that look on thy front find thee most true;
But most remorseless, pitiless, and cold,
Who on thy backward visage bend their view.
They that look on thy front find thee most true;
But most remorseless, pitiless, and cold,
Who on thy backward visage bend their view.
1846.
| Poems and Essays | |