120
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF MY BIRTHDAY.
Whether the golden bowl
Unbroken shall remain,
Whether the silver cord
Its links unsnapped retain,
Unbroken shall remain,
Whether the silver cord
Its links unsnapped retain,
Till nature yield
To time's all-powerful sway,
And the tired spirit gently quit
The tottering clay,—
To time's all-powerful sway,
And the tired spirit gently quit
The tottering clay,—
Or whether, ere the charms
Of life are fled,
The fatal shaft of death
Lay low my youthful head,—
Of life are fled,
The fatal shaft of death
Lay low my youthful head,—
Is only known to Him
Who reigns above,
But who extends to all
A father's care and love.
Who reigns above,
But who extends to all
A father's care and love.
Whether the coming year
Be doomed to be
Be doomed to be
