Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LINES WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LINES WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, by             Poet's Biography
First Line: Say, ye who thro' this round of eighty years
Last Line: "to bow the head, and say, ""thy will be done."
Alternate Author Name(s): Aikin, Anna Letitia
Subject(s): Holidays; New Year


Say, ye who thro' this round of eighty years
Have proved its joys and sorrows, hopes and fears,
Say what is Life, ye veterans who have trod,
Step following step, its flow'ry, thorny road?
Enough of good to kindle strong desire,
Enough of ill to damp the rising fire,
Enough of love and fancy, joy and hope,
To fan desire and give the passions scope,
Enough of disappointment, sorrow, pain,
To seal the wise man's sentence "All is vain,"
And quench the wish to live those years again.
Science for man unlocks her various store,
And gives enough to urge the wish for more;
Systems and suns lie open to his gaze,
Nature invites his love and God his praise;
Yet doubt and ignorance with his feelings sport,
And Jacob's ladder is some rounds too short.
Yet still to humble hope enough is given
Of light from reason's lamp and light from heaven,
To teach us what to follow, what to shun,
To bow the head, and say, "Thy will be done."





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