Whether thou bearest a scorpion-sting, Or, smiling, comest on new-fledg'd wing, To whisper peace to this sad heart; On HIM, Omniscient, I depend, And trembling, hoping, trusting, bend To His decree, whose gift thou art. Through many a dread, soul-harrowing scene, My weary pilgrim feet have been By thy stern predecessor led; Yet, e'en 'mid sorrow's cypress bowers, Some bright, some balm-distilling flowers, Mercy beneficently spread. And still, with watchful, pitying eye, Celestial Mercy, ever nigh, Will shield my bosom from despair; And if in thy mysterious breast More poignant ills, in embryo, rest, Arm me with fortitude to bear. Alas! what eyes whose radiance ne'er Was dimm'd by misery's scalding tear, Stranger, from thee shall learn to weep; While hearts to anguish, now a prey, Ere the sun gilds thy closing day, Where anguish never dwells shall sleep! Perhaps, ere thy brief course is run, My fragile thread of being spun, These anxious, tearful lids may close; And she who now addresses thee, From hopes, from fears, from sorrow free, May, on earth's peaceful lap, repose. Oh! may thy moments, stealing by In silent lapse, quell every sigh, Lull every rebel thought to rest; Teach me resign'd, to meet the rod, Sway'd by that great Eternal God Whose will is ever wisest, best. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLAD OF HUMAN LIFE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD by THEODORE O'HARA ON THE SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS THE LAST SUPPER by RAINER MARIA RILKE RETURNING, WE HEAR THE LARKS by ISAAC ROSENBERG EDEN BOWER by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE CATARACT OF LODORE by ROBERT SOUTHEY |