Poems (Frances Elizabeth Browne)/Hope
For works with similar titles, see Hope.
HOPE.
What is Hope? The sages tell us 'T is a vision soon destroyed,Painting life in glowing colors Never meant to be enjoyed,
Oft deceiving careless youth With many an idle, vain presage,Maturer years still flattering on, Till disappointed by old age.
Yet, if hope smooths The rugged path of life, And kindly soothesWoes else 't were hard to bear,Successfully opposes fell despair, And conquers in the strife, O, may hope attend us still, Support us under every ill!
But know, hope founded on the Rock Of ages calmly meets the shock Of nature, brightly gilds the tomb,Nor then deceives in painting joys to come,Exulting, points to brighter worlds on high,And with celestial voice instructs us how to die.