Now fold thy rich experience round thee, To shield therewith the sinking heart: The sunset-gold of Day hath crowned thee: The dark gate opens, -- so depart! What growth the leafy years could render No more into its bud returns; It clothes thee still with faded splendor As banks are clothed by autumn ferns. All spring could dream or summer fash ion, If ripened, or untimely cast, The harvest of thy toil and passion -- Thy sheaf of life -- is bound at last. What scattered ears thy field encloses, What tares unweeded, now behold; And here the poppies, there the roses, Send withered fragrance through the gold. Lo! as thou camest, so thou goest, From bright Unknown to bright Un known, Save that the light thou forward throwest, Was fainter then behind thee thrown Again be glad! through tears and laughter, And deed and failure, thou art strong: Thy Here presages thy Hereafter, And neither sphere shall do thee wrong! To mother-breasts of nurture fonder Go, child! -- once more in beauty young: And hear our @3Vale!@1 echoed yonder As @3Salve!@1 in a sweeter tongue! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SEA DIALOGUE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE SOLDIER by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: SLEEPER'S COUNTENANCE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES HYMN TO HORUS by MATHILDE BLIND SONNET ON MOOR PARK: WRITTEN AT PARIS, MAY 10, 1825 by SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES |