POEMS.
43
He has started from his woe to feel
Again love's joys and fears,
And paused upon his lonely path
Through this dark vale of tears;
Again love's joys and fears,
And paused upon his lonely path
Through this dark vale of tears;
To circle, with his time-chilled hopes,
Another spirit bright;
To welcome to his darkened soul
Once more a ray of light.
Another spirit bright;
To welcome to his darkened soul
Once more a ray of light.
Aye, once again young footsteps ring
In the deserted halls;
And the shadow of a fair young form
On each gloomy spot there falls.
In the deserted halls;
And the shadow of a fair young form
On each gloomy spot there falls.
More years have passed, and that laugh of mirth
Hath changed in its glad tone;
In childhood's hour we must seek to list
To the careless laugh alone.
Hath changed in its glad tone;
In childhood's hour we must seek to list
To the careless laugh alone.
'Tis manhood: and that laugh but wakes
In scorn of guiding age,
Mocking the hand that pointeth out
Fate's darkly-written page—
In scorn of guiding age,
Mocking the hand that pointeth out
Fate's darkly-written page—
And then that parent stands bereft
Of the heart's peace and pride;
Made desolate on earth by one,
Best loved of all beside!
Of the heart's peace and pride;
Made desolate on earth by one,
Best loved of all beside!
