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Pants with an earnest longing for the death Which would for ever close its
dark career； With the pale shroud and the remorseless bier； When the
harsh； sterile nothingness of life； First breaks upon the hope…deluded
breast； And the heart sickens with the bootless strife That wrings its
chords； and longs to be at rest； Ev'n if the blow that frees it from distress；
Should strike it into utter nothingness。
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Ah； nothingness！ The thought at times will come； The mind will
wrestle with the mystery That clouds its being！ from its clay…made home；
Its dwelling of a m6ment； it will flee Into the far depths of the vast
UNKNOWN； In its vain searchings for th' eternal throne Of that
Omnipotence which gave it birth； And； giving it a nature which might
suit A seraph； bound its destiny to earth！ And a few years； in which to
eat the fruit Of life's strange tree； so bitter at its core； Then death； the
quiet grave； sleep； andwhat more？
Whence came we？ whither go we？ All is still And voiceless in the
past！ A veil is drawn Across the future！ by life's mystic rill We sit and
ponder； watching for the dawn Of some yet unconceived； far…reaching
thought； By which our nature's secret shall be taught！ Why sorrow is our
elementwhy sin Is native in usby what curse we bear An ever aching；
crushing void within Our secret souls！ and why the little share Of
happiness that mingles with our fate； Is of such fleeting； transitory date 1
Our loves！ our hopes！ what are they？ fruits which turn To ashes on
our lips！ illusive lights That cast a moment's brightness while they burn；
Then die； and leave a darkness which affrights Our spirits with its thrice
redoubled gloom； Making the sky a pallthe earth a tomb！ And yet these
are the all of life for which 'Tis worth the wearing of its chain to know；
Wealth； fame； and power are but toys！ the rich； The high and mighty；
with the base and low； Alike before the reaper Death must fall； So be it！
in the grave is rest for all。
Stanzas。
When the leaf is on the tree； And the bird is in the bower； And the
butterfly and bee； Bear its treasures from the flower； When the fields
put on the sheen； That to young…eyed Spring belongs； When the groves
and forests green； Echo with a thousand songs；
When wild Beauty wanders forth； Giving； with no stinted care； All
her loveliness to earth； All her sweetness to the air： Then the heart； with
gladness stirred； Mindful of its griefs no more； Mounts and carols； like
a bird When the pearly shower is o'er！
But the summer's sunny hours； As we count them； pass away； And
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its fairest fruits and flowers； Are but food for stern decay。 Then with
wailings； deep and loud； Like the sea's in its unrest； Winter spreads his
icy shroud； O'er the bare earth's frozen breast。
Thus the spirit's early gladness； Sorrow chills or time removes； And
the soul； in tears and sadness； Mourns its perished joys and loves。 Hope
will lose its trusting boldness； One by one its beams depart； And
Despair； with icy； coldness； Winds its mantle round the heart。
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AFTER WITNESSING A DEATH…
SCENE。
Press close your lips； And bow your heads to earth； for
Death is here！ Mark ye not how across that eye so clear；
Steals his eclipse？
A moment more； And the quick throbbings of her heart
shall cease； Her pain…wrung spirit will obtain release； And
all be o'er！
Hush！ Seal ye up Your gushing tears； for Mercy's hand
hath shaken Her earth…bonds off； and from her lip hath taken
Grief's bitter cup。
Ye know the dead Are they who rest secure from care
and strife； That they who walk the thorny way of life；
Have tears to shed。
Ye know her pray'r； Was for the quiet of the tomb's deep
rest； Love's sepulchre lay cold within her breast； Could
peace dwell there？
A tale soon told； Is of her life the story； she had loved；
And he who won her heart to love； had proved Heartless
and cold。
Lay her to rest； Where shines and falls the summer's
sun and dew； For these should shine and fall where lies so true
And fond a breast！
A full release From every pang is given to the dead；
So on the stone ye place above her head； Write only
〃Peace。〃*
When Spring comes back； With music on her lips；joy
in her eye； Her sunny banner streaming through the sky；
Flow'rs in her track
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Then come ye here； And musing from the busy world
apart； Drop on the turf that wraps her mouldering heart；
Sweet Pity's tear。
* The most touchingly beautiful epitaph I have ever read； was written
in that one word； 〃Peace。〃 It seemed like the last sigh of a departing spirit；
over the clay which it was about to abandon for ever。
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LOVE AND FANCY。
〃Whenever； amid bow'rs of myrtle； Love； summer…
tressed and vernal…eyed； At morn or eve is seen to wander；
A dark…haired girl is at his side。〃 De La Hogue。
One morn； just as day in the far east was breaking； Young Love；
who all night had been roving about； A charming siesta was quietly taking；
His strength； by his rambles； completely worn out。
Round his brow a wreath； woven of every flower That springs from
the hillside； or valley； was bound； In his hand was a rose he had stol'n
from some bower； While his bow and his quiver lay near on the ground。
Wild Fancy just came from her kingdom of dreams； The breath of
the opening day to enjoy； And to catch the warm kiss of its first golden
beams On her cheek； caught a glimpse of the slumbering boy！
With a light； noiseless step she drew near to the sleeper； And gazed
till her snowy…breast heaved a soft sigh； Then she bade sleep's dull god
bring a sounder and deeper And heavier trance for Love's beautiful eye。
Then back to her shadowy kingdom she flow； And called up the
bright mystic forms she has there； And filling an urn from a fountain of
dew； She bade them all straight to Love's couch…side repair。
They came； and stood round； as her hand； o'er his pillow； From a
chalice of pearl； poured its magical stream： While his red rosy lips； that
now sighed like a billow At play with the breeze； told how sweet was
his dream。
He dreamed that he sat on a shining throne； wrought Of the purest
of gold that the earth could supply； While a trio of beautiful maids； who
each brought A gift for his shrine； in succession past by。
First Fame； with the step and the glance of a queen； Came up； and
before him bent down her proud knee； And held up a garland； whereon
played the sheen Of the beams which insure immortality！
Next Wealth； the stern mistress of men； for whose smile They toil
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like the galley slave；brought in her hand The fair gems of many an ocean
isle； And the diamonds of many a far off land