Poems (Cook)/Stanzas (The ruthless hand of savage strife)
For works with similar titles, see Stanzas.
STANZAS.
The ruthless hand of savage strife Lays waste the fair and smiling bowers:The ruby flood of streaming blood Darkens the earth and chokes the flowers.But let the fearful day be past— The dust forgets the sanguine stain;The crush'd blade rises fresh and fast; And leaf and flower are there again.
The sunlight gilds the rippling tide— The wave is gentle in its flow—Till some rude bark, in sweeping pride, Disturbs it with a cleaving prow.Foam dashes as the keel speeds on, Its chafing track awakes the main;A moment, and the foam is gone— The ruffled waters sleep again.
The clouds may meet in frowning form, And gather in the face of day;The shadow of the scowling storm May overcast the noontide ray;But soon the south wind breathes serene,— The bee and bird are on the plain;The sky forgets the storm hath been— And all is joy and light again.
So should our bosoms take the jar That thoughtless speech or deed may wake;The wounds which, soon heal'd, slightly scar,— Kept open, fester, bleed, and ache.Let not the seed of anger live— The yielding heart knows least of pain:'Tis wisest to forget, forgive; And dwell in love and peace again.