Home, Sweet Home (1829)/Look Forward with Hope for To-Morrow

LOOK FORWARD VITH HOPE FOR
TO-MORROW.

IN the downhill of life, when I find I'm declining,
⁠May my fate no less fortunate be.
Than a snug elbow chair can afford for reclining.
⁠And a cot that o'er’ooks the wide sea
With an ambling pad poney, to pace o er the lawn,
⁠While I carol away idle sorrow;
And blithe as the lark, that each day hails the dawn,
⁠Look forward with hope for to-morrow.

With a porch at my door, both for shelter and shade too,
⁠As the sunshine or rain may prevail;
A small spot of ground for the use of the spade too,
⁠And a barn for the use of the flail.
A cow for my dairy, a dog for my game,
⁠And a purse when a friend wants to borrow
I’ll envy no Nabob his riches or fame,
⁠Nor what honour awaits him to-morrow.

From the bleak northern blast may ray cot be completely
⁠Secured by a neighbouring hill;
At night, may repose steal upon me more sweetly,
⁠By the vide of a murmuring rill;
And, while peace and plenty I find at my board,
⁠With a heart free from sickness and sorrow,
With my friends will I share what to-day may afford,
⁠And let them spread the table to-morrow.

But when I at last must throw off this frail covering.
⁠Which I’ve worn for threescere years and ten,
On the brink of the grave I'll not seek to keep hovering,
⁠Nor my thread wish to spin o'er again;
But my face in a glass I'll serenely survey,
⁠And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow,
As this old worn-out stuff which is thread-bare to-day,
⁠May become everlasting to-morrow.