Poems (Acton)/Lights and Shadows
For works with similar titles, see Lights and Shadows.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
'Tis beautiful by woodland green To watch the dancing sunbeams play,The drooping willow leaves between; While motionless on summer day,Amid the rays that round them gleam,The shadows sleep upon the stream.
Oh! closely, wheresoe'er they be, Those lights and shades are still entwined;For when the sunbeam's glance we see, The shadow stealeth on behind,And with its sombre hue doth lendMore beauty to its golden friend.
So is it with life's changing scene; Its present joy doth oft effaceThe memory of what hath been, Tho' on each care-worn brow the traceOf sorrow's iron-hand may beWritten, alas! how legibly!
Aye, brighter for the passing shade, The fleeting rays of pleasure seem,Though hopes that round our heart had played May shed no more their joyous gleam;Yet in the sun that shines at last,We lose the shadow of the past.
And better far, tho' keen the dart, That chequered thus our path should be;For well we know the human heart Doth rust in long prosperity;But chastened by the shadow's night,We learn to bless the sunbeam bright.H. A.