WHEN the weariness of Life is ended, And the task of our long day is done, And the props, on which our hearts depended, All have failed or broken, one by one; Evening and our Sorrow's shadow blended, Telling us that peace is now begun. How far back will seem the sun's first dawning, And those early mists so cold and gray! Half forgotten even the toil of morning, And the heat and burden of the day: Flowers that we were tending, and weeds scorning, All alike withered and cast away. Vain will seem the impatient heart, which waited Toils that gathered but too quickly round; And the childish joy, so soon elated At the path we thought none else had found: And the foolish ardor, soon abated By the storm which cast us to the ground. Vain those pauses on the road, each seeming As our final home and resting-place; And the leaving them, while tears were streaming Of eternal sorrow down our face; And the hands we held, fond folly dreaming That no future could their touch efface. All will then be faded: -- night will borrow Stars of light to crown our perfect rest; And the dim vague memory of faint sorrow Just remain to show us all was best, Then melt into a divine to-morrow: -- O how poor a day to be so blest! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GARRISON by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT THE NEW EZEKIEL by EMMA LAZARUS SONGO RIVER; CONNECTING LAKE SEBAGO AND LONG LAKE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW STRANGE MEETINGS: 10 by HAROLD MONRO MY MOTHER by FLORENCE R. ANDREWS SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 17. THE CHILD by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |