Poems (Acton)/On the Threatened Destruction of some Withered Christmas Holly

ON THE THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF SOME WITHERED CHRISTMAS HOLLY. ——

Stay! ere you doom the symbol of your mirth,
 So lately cherished 'mid each joyous scene;
Can it not be in memory verdant—yet
 The drooping boughs no more be tinged with green?

'Twas but ere now each faded leaf was prized,
 Was sought, where flow'rs of beauty were passed by;
Oh! if you cherished then have pity now;
 You cannot love and doom remorselessly.

Think, like these boughs, how oft a noble heart
 Hath been a toy in beauty's sunny day;
And, like these, now neglected, hath been spurned,
 When all that Time can change hath passed away.

Could you not weep at such sad tale, of what
 Is but the fate of many a-trusting heart?
Then can you doom what hath been lovely too,
 And view, with altered eye, each charm depart?

No! for you know not that your path will be
 E'er crossed by those whom time will leave the same;
Within whose hearts its hand may not efface,
 As years roll on, ev'n memory of your name!

Oh! spare then, as you would, in turn, be spared!
 Prize, as you would be prized, when all is past
That can attract the fickle smiles of those
 Whom you may live to learn and scorn at last!
R. A.