Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/To the Departing Year

To the Departing Year.

Written at midnight. Dec. 31st, 182—.

 

i.Fare thee well, thou fitful dream! Yet an hour, and all is o'er—And, to-morrow's rising beam Shall light thy path no more.Fare thee well! yet ere we part— Ere thine hours have ceased to be,Take thy tribute from my heart, My blessing home with thee.

ii.Yes, my blessing! By my tears, By my heaving bosom's pain,Thou hast brought what future years Ne'er can bring again.And though 'neath the glorious flowers, Lurked the sting that pierced my breast,Yet, oh! yet, thy vanished hours— I will call them blest.

iii.Calm and peaceful were they never— Theirs was many an anguish sore;Theirs it was a tie to sever That earth unites no more.Yet through mists of gloom and tears, Dwelt one sunbeam on my breast—Oh! beyond all other years, I will call thee blest.

iv.Words can never, never tell Half the feelings bound to thee—Half the thrilling dreams that dwell With thy deathless memory.Thine has been the power to raise Burning spells to break my rest—Yet, oh! yet, thy parted days— I will call them blest.

v.Hark! a sound! thou vanished year! Now thy brief career is o'er:Take, oh! take, my parting tear, We shall meet no more.Sleep in dust, 'mid ages gone— There it rang, thy funeral knell!But in my heart, while time moves on, Shall live our last Farewell.