Poems (Edwards)/"Where are They?"

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

WHERE ARE THEY?

"I stood amidst the scenes of my childhood, but the friends of my youth were gone far away. The trees were stripped of their bloom. The gay carol of the feathered songsters was hushed; and desolation waved her wings over the deserted halls of Ivon. In the bitterness of despair, I called,—Where are they?—and the distant hills gave back the shout, and echo answered 'Where?'"

[Ossian.

 

Where are they now, where are they,
 The loving and the loved,
Who once in days departed,
 About this homestead moved?
I call, but no one answers,
 I speak, but none will hear.
The distant hills give back my voice,
 And Echo answers—"Where."

Where is the loving Mother,
 Who watched my early years,
And knelt beside my couch,
 And prayed for me with tears;
Who guarded me in childhood,
 With tenderness and care?
The sounding hills send back my" call,
 And Echo whispers—"Where."

Where is the kindly Father,
 Whose love was deep and pure?
I see him here no longer
 As in the days of yore;
His voice no more steals near me
 And vacant is his chair;
I call his name—but Echo,
 In mockery answers—"Where."

Where are my kind young Sisters,
 And Brothers. where are they?
Have they too gone and left me,
 Could none among them stay?
Could none remain to bless me,
 Will none my anguish share?
Where are they, Oh! where are they?
 Sad Echo answers—"Where."

Where are they all, where are they,
 Will they return no more,
Are all our happy moments
 And social meetings o'er?
My native hills are round me,
 But none I loved are here,
And when I call, where are they?
 Cold Echo answers—"Where."

Ah! who is there to love me,
 Along life's lonely way,
Since those I fondly cherished,
 Have passed, all passed away;
I call, but no one answers,
 I speak, but none will hear,
The distant hills give back my voice,
 And Echo answers—"Where."