From our evening fireside now Merry laugh and cheerful tone, Smiling eye and cloudless brow, Mirth and music all are flown. Yet the grass before the door Grows as green in April rain, And as blithely as of yore Larks have poured their daylong strain. Is it fear or is it sorrow Checks the frequent stream of joy? Do we tremble that to-morrow May our present peace destroy? For past misery are we weeping? What is past can hurt no more; And the gracious heavens are keeping Aid for that which lies before. One is absent, and for one, Cheerless, chill is our hearthstone. One is absent, and for him Cheeks are pale and eyes are dim. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONGS FOR MY MOTHER: 3. HER WORDS by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX by ROBERT BROWNING THE MAD MAID'S SONG by ROBERT HERRICK A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 40 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN GRENADIER by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE MODERN MOTHER by ALICE MEYNELL |