A GEM WITHOUT A FLAW.
I tried to buy a jewel bright,
Of purest serenest ray;
Without a flaw to mar the beauteous gleams
That o'er its surface play.
Of purest serenest ray;
Without a flaw to mar the beauteous gleams
That o'er its surface play.
I thought I'd wear a thornless rose,
Forever upon my heart;
A sweet red rose, that to life's dreary scenes
Rich fragrance would impart.
Forever upon my heart;
A sweet red rose, that to life's dreary scenes
Rich fragrance would impart.
And then I sought to find a friend,
Who faultless would ever prove;
His heart, a cup to hold the sweets of life,
Receptacle of love.
Who faultless would ever prove;
His heart, a cup to hold the sweets of life,
Receptacle of love.
I sought in vain to find one joy
That was unalloyed with woe,
One flawless gem, one perfect thing of clay,
One spot of peace below.
That was unalloyed with woe,
One flawless gem, one perfect thing of clay,
One spot of peace below.
I searched in vain, I could not find
One single perfect thing;
When lo! came whispers from the spirit land,
A flaw is but death's sting.
One single perfect thing;
When lo! came whispers from the spirit land,
A flaw is but death's sting.
All blemished things must pass away,
Earth's fairest flowers must die,
But perfect gems some day you'll surely find
With immortality.
Earth's fairest flowers must die,
But perfect gems some day you'll surely find
With immortality.