THE CITY OF THE LIVING.
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Where they might work, and win, and live forever,
Still holding heart to heart.
Still holding heart to heart.
And so they lived, in happiness and pleasure,
And grew in power and pride,
And did great deeds, and laid up stores of pleasure,
And never any died.
And grew in power and pride,
And did great deeds, and laid up stores of pleasure,
And never any died.
And many years rolled on, and saw them striving
With unabated breath;
And other years still found and left them living,
And gave no hope of death.
With unabated breath;
And other years still found and left them living,
And gave no hope of death.
Yet listen, hapless soul whom angels pity,
Craving a boon like this,—
Mark how the dwellers in the wondrous city
Grew weary of their bliss.
Craving a boon like this,—
Mark how the dwellers in the wondrous city
Grew weary of their bliss.
One and another, who had been concealing
The pain of life's long thrall,
Forsook their pleasant places, and came stealing
Outside the city wall,
The pain of life's long thrall,
Forsook their pleasant places, and came stealing
Outside the city wall,