[Influences.]
Drop follows drop and swells,
With rain, the sweeping river;
Word follows word, and tells
A truth that lasts forever.
Flake follows flake, like sprites,
Whose wings the winds dissever;
Thought follows thought, and lights
The realms of mind forever.
Beam follows beam, to cheer
The cloud a bolt would shiver;
Dream follows dream, and fear
Gives way to joy forever.
The drop, the flake, the beam,
Teach us a lesson ever;
The word, the thought, the dream,
Impress the heart forever.
[Musings.]
Few the joys—oh! few and scattered—
That from fleeting life we borrow;
And we’re paying, ever paying,
With an usury of sorrow!
If a bright emotion, passing,
Casts a sun-ray o’er our faces,
Plodding Time—the envious plowman—
Soon a shadowy furrow traces!
If a hope—ambition-nurtured—
Gilds our future, ere we’ve won it,
Vaunting Time—the hoary jailor—
Shuts his somber gates upon it!
If a heart our bosom seeking,
With a fond affection woos it,
Heartless Time—remorseless reaper—
Sweeps his ruthless sickle through it!