SUMMER BY THE LAKESIDE.
23
Life's burdens fall, its discords cease,
I lapse into the glad release
Of Nature's own exceeding peace.
I lapse into the glad release
Of Nature's own exceeding peace.
O, welcome calm of heart and mind!
As falls yon fir-tree's loosened rind
To leave a tenderer growth behind,
As falls yon fir-tree's loosened rind
To leave a tenderer growth behind,
So fall the weary years away;
A child again, my head I lay
Upon the lap of this sweet day.
A child again, my head I lay
Upon the lap of this sweet day.
This western wind hath Lethean powers,
Yon noonday cloud nepenthe showers,
The lake is white with lotus-flowers!
Yon noonday cloud nepenthe showers,
The lake is white with lotus-flowers!
Even Duty's voice is faint and low,
And slumberous Conscience, waking slow,
Forgets her blotted scroll to show.
And slumberous Conscience, waking slow,
Forgets her blotted scroll to show.
The Shadow which pursues us all,
Whose ever-nearing steps appall,
Whose voice we hear behind us call,—
Whose ever-nearing steps appall,
Whose voice we hear behind us call,—
That Shadow blends with mountain gray,
It speaks but what the light waves say,—
Death walks apart from Fear to-day!
It speaks but what the light waves say,—
Death walks apart from Fear to-day!
Rocked on her breast, these pines and I
Alike on Nature's love rely;
And equal seems to live or die.
Alike on Nature's love rely;
And equal seems to live or die.
