The tender embryoes that spring to life
In countless crevices of heart and soul,
That Love hath nurtured and that Hope hath fed
That where weeds grew there might be flowers instead?
In countless crevices of heart and soul,
That Love hath nurtured and that Hope hath fed
That where weeds grew there might be flowers instead?
Will ye break in like thieves in rayless night
And steal the diamonds one by one away
That flashed from Love's bright ring their varying light
'Till all are gone whom we had hoped might stay?
Ah! will ye prey upon life's youthful tree
'Till flower and fruit and leaf are in decay
'Till the life fluid surging in its heart
With such fresh, ardent living energy
Is quenched, its channels parched, its fountain dry
'Till all it was or promised still to be
With branches reaching even to the sky
Down in the fossil depths of earth is thrown
To petrify and harden into stone?
O beauteous Years, if only these ye leave
Take, take the gentle sentiments that grieve,
Let not the blows that all have overthrown
Leave one faint wound upon the heart's cold stone!
And steal the diamonds one by one away
That flashed from Love's bright ring their varying light
'Till all are gone whom we had hoped might stay?
Ah! will ye prey upon life's youthful tree
'Till flower and fruit and leaf are in decay
'Till the life fluid surging in its heart
With such fresh, ardent living energy
Is quenched, its channels parched, its fountain dry
'Till all it was or promised still to be
With branches reaching even to the sky
Down in the fossil depths of earth is thrown
To petrify and harden into stone?
O beauteous Years, if only these ye leave
Take, take the gentle sentiments that grieve,
Let not the blows that all have overthrown
Leave one faint wound upon the heart's cold stone!
But no, bright Years, Faith, Mercy, Hope declare
False are the prophecies of veiled Despair
Who whispers: "Oh, the Years are flying fast
Ye now are happy but it cannot last;"
They sing, with folded wings above the heart,
"Faith, Mercy, Love and Hope will not depart
The Years can have no power to make thee old
The warm deep springs of Love shall not grow cold;
Mercy shall drop her dew in blessing down,
True Happiness braid still her blossom crown
False are the prophecies of veiled Despair
Who whispers: "Oh, the Years are flying fast
Ye now are happy but it cannot last;"
They sing, with folded wings above the heart,
"Faith, Mercy, Love and Hope will not depart
The Years can have no power to make thee old
The warm deep springs of Love shall not grow cold;
Mercy shall drop her dew in blessing down,
True Happiness braid still her blossom crown
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