ON THE RETURN OF SPRING.1825.
In vain, alas! are Nature's charms
To those whom sorrows share,
In vain the budding flowers appear
To misery's hopeless heir.
To those whom sorrows share,
In vain the budding flowers appear
To misery's hopeless heir.
In vain, the glorious sun adorns
And glads the lengthened day,
When grief must share the tedious hours
That pass in long array;—
And glads the lengthened day,
When grief must share the tedious hours
That pass in long array;—
When stern disease with blighting power
Has nipt life's transient bloom,
And long, incessant agonies
Unrespited consume.
Has nipt life's transient bloom,
And long, incessant agonies
Unrespited consume.
How lost the glow that pleasure thrilled
Once through the raptured breast,
When, bright in every blooming sweet,
This beauteous earth was drest!
Once through the raptured breast,
When, bright in every blooming sweet,
This beauteous earth was drest!
No joyous walks through flowery fields
Shall e'er again delight;
For sorrow veils those pleasing scenes
In deepest shades of night.
Shall e'er again delight;
For sorrow veils those pleasing scenes
In deepest shades of night.
Now, worn with pain, oppressed with grief,
To wretchedness a prey,
The night returns, and day succeeds,
Without a cheering ray.
To wretchedness a prey,
The night returns, and day succeeds,
Without a cheering ray.
The room, with darkened windows sad,
A dungeon's semblance bears,—
And all about the silent bed
The face of misery wears:
A dungeon's semblance bears,—
And all about the silent bed
The face of misery wears:
Shut out from Nature's beauteous charms,
And breath of balmy air,
Ah! what can chase the hopeless gloom,
But Heaven,—but humble prayer!
And breath of balmy air,
Ah! what can chase the hopeless gloom,
But Heaven,—but humble prayer!