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what lies before us?
What Lies Before Us?
What lies before us? Who can say?
Not you, nor I.
No shadow falls upon our way,
No warning voices, whispering, say
The end is nigh.
And yet there's but a step between
This world of ours and the Unseen,
Whose borders lie
So near us, that a sigh, a breath,
Bridges the gulf that we call death.
Not you, nor I.
No shadow falls upon our way,
No warning voices, whispering, say
The end is nigh.
And yet there's but a step between
This world of ours and the Unseen,
Whose borders lie
So near us, that a sigh, a breath,
Bridges the gulf that we call death.
We journey on with smile and jest,
While it may be
Some dear one, one we loved the best,
Has gone forth on their last lone quest
Across the sea—
The vast dark sea, which flows so near,
Yet ne'er is heard by mortal ear.
Then, vainly we,
Weeping, call to them o'er this tide;
No voice comes from the "other side."
While it may be
Some dear one, one we loved the best,
Has gone forth on their last lone quest
Across the sea—
The vast dark sea, which flows so near,
Yet ne'er is heard by mortal ear.
Then, vainly we,
Weeping, call to them o'er this tide;
No voice comes from the "other side."
What lies before us? Who can tell?
Not mortal man.
To-day we say that "all is well,"
To-morrow may have rung the knell
Of some fond plan,
Blighted our hopes, or cherished schemes.
Ah, me! how many golden dreams
Fate loves to ban:
But hope, like spring, returns again,
And time heals wounds and deadens pain.
Not mortal man.
To-day we say that "all is well,"
To-morrow may have rung the knell
Of some fond plan,
Blighted our hopes, or cherished schemes.
Ah, me! how many golden dreams
Fate loves to ban:
But hope, like spring, returns again,
And time heals wounds and deadens pain.
