Death

5Leaves, upon Time's branch, were growing brightly,

6Full of sap, and full of silver dew;

7Birds beneath its shelter gathered nightly;

8Daily round its flowers the wild bees flew.

9Sorrow passed, and plucked the golden blossom;

10Guilt stripped off the foliage in its pride;

11But, within its parent's kindly bosom,

12Flowed for ever Life's restoring-tide.

13Little mourned I for the parted gladness,

14For the vacant nest and silent song -

15Hope was there, and laughed me out of sadness;

16Whispering, " Winter will not linger long!"

17And, behold! with tenfold increase blessing,

18Spring adorned the beauty-burdened spray;

19Wind and rain and fervent heat, caressing,

20Lavished glory on that second May!

21High it rose - no winged grief could sweep it;

22Sin was scared to distance with its shine;

23Love, and its own life, had power to keep it

24From all wrong - from every blight but thine!

25Cruel Death! The young leaves droop and languish;

26Evening's gentle air may still restore -

27No! the morning sunshine mocks my anguish -

28Time, for me, must never blossom more!

29Strike it down, that other boughs may flourish

30Where that perished sapling used to be;

31Thus, at least, its mouldering corpse will nourish

32That from which it sprung - Eternity.