 | Thought and word |  |
14
[See what lives of mortals are]
See what lives of mortals are
On our foolish little star!
Toil unceasing, pleasure flying,
Aspiration fall'n to sighing,
Old deceits in garbs newfangled,
Angel-wings with cobwebs tangled,
Selfish comfort, drugg'd with sense,
Ambition's poverty immense,
Tender memory, sad in vain,
Flickering hope and haunting pain,
Cries of suffering, sweat of strife,—
But where the strong victorious life?
On our foolish little star!
Toil unceasing, pleasure flying,
Aspiration fall'n to sighing,
Old deceits in garbs newfangled,
Angel-wings with cobwebs tangled,
Selfish comfort, drugg'd with sense,
Ambition's poverty immense,
Tender memory, sad in vain,
Flickering hope and haunting pain,
Cries of suffering, sweat of strife,—
But where the strong victorious life?
Perchance its deeds make little noise;
No record of its pains and joys,
Save in mystic forms enscroll'd,
Spiritual eyes behold,
Seeing what lives of mortals are
On our foolish little star.
No record of its pains and joys,
Save in mystic forms enscroll'd,
Spiritual eyes behold,
Seeing what lives of mortals are
On our foolish little star.
| Thought and word | |