The Poetical Works of William Motherwell/A Solemn Conceit

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A Solemn Conceit.

Stately trees are growing,
Lusty winds are blowing,
And mighty rivers flowing
On, for ever on.
As stately forms were growing,
As lusty spirits blowing,
And as mighty fancies flowing
On, for ever on;
But there has been leave-taking,
Sorrow and heart-breaking,
And a moan, pale Echo's making,
For the gone, for ever gone!

Lovely stars are gleaming,
Bearded lights are streaming,
And glorious suns are beaming
On, for ever on.
As lovely eyes were gleaming,
As wondrous lights were streaming,
And as glorious minds were beaming
On, for ever on;—

But there has been soul-sundering,
Wailing, and sad wondering;
For graves grow fat with plundering
The gone, for ever gone!

We see great eagles soaring,
We hear deep oceans roaring,
And sparkling fountains pouring
On, for ever on.
As lofty ones were soaring,
As sonorous voices roaring,
And as sparkling wits were pouring
On, for ever on;—
But, pinions have been shedding,
And voiceless darkness spreading,
Since a measure Death's been treading
O'er the gone, for ever gone!

Every thing is sundering,
Every one is wondering,
And this huge globe goes thundering
On, for ever on.
But, 'mid this weary sundering,
Heart-breaking and sad wondering,

And this huge globe's rude thundering
On, for ever on,
I would that I were dreaming,
Where little flowers are gleaming,
And the long green grass is streaming
O'er the gone, for ever gone!