1865
O darkest Year! O brightest Year!
O changeful Year of joy and woe,
To-day we stand beside thy bier,
Still loth to let thee go!
O changeful Year of joy and woe,
To-day we stand beside thy bier,
Still loth to let thee go!
We look upon thy brow, and say,
"How old he is,—how old and worn!"
Has but a twelvemonth passed away
Since thou wert newly born?
"How old he is,—how old and worn!"
Has but a twelvemonth passed away
Since thou wert newly born?
So long it seems since on the air
The joy-bells rang to hail thy birth—
And pale lips strove to call thee fair,
And sing the songs of mirth!
The joy-bells rang to hail thy birth—
And pale lips strove to call thee fair,
And sing the songs of mirth!
For dark the heavens that o'er thee hung;
By stormy winds thy couch was rocked;
Thy cradle-hymn the Furies sung,
While sneering Demons mocked!
By stormy winds thy couch was rocked;
Thy cradle-hymn the Furies sung,
While sneering Demons mocked!
We held our very breath for dread;
Shadowed by clouds, that, like a pall,
Darkened the blue sky overhead,
And night hung over all.
Shadowed by clouds, that, like a pall,
Darkened the blue sky overhead,
And night hung over all.
But thou wert better than our fears,
And bade our land's long anguish cease
And gave us, O thou Year of years,
The costly pearl of Peace!
And bade our land's long anguish cease
And gave us, O thou Year of years,
The costly pearl of Peace!
