Poems (Gifford)/Memories
For works with similar titles, see Memories.
MEMORIES.
Shall we sing, or shall we weepAs life's memories we keep?For so varied is the storeThat we ponder o'er and o'er,And who can results appraiseOf events of bygone days?Days when life seemed perfect sunshine,Not a cloud that we could tell,Days when life seeemed utter darknessThat no morn could e'er dispel.Sunny summer bliss has beenSmitten by an anguish keen;Dreary days of doubt and dreadHave brought bright surprise instead;Swift have followed smiles and tearsAll along the circling years.
Memories! memories! how they gather Around everything we know, Keeping fresh the long ago, Lengthening out our joy, our woe, Whether we desire or no— Are we fain to have it so, Or would we such thought forego,Choosing blank oblivion rather?
Never, never can we smotherMemories of father, mother,Memories of sister, brother,Memories of many another;Memories of vanished faces,Memories of altered places,Memories of sin and sadness,Memories of good and gladness,Memories of sweet successes,Memories of dire distresses, Memories of plans defeated,Memories of hopes repeated,—What tumultuous thoughts they bring!Shall we weep, or shall we sing?****Ah! one remembrance shines aboveAll that we know of chequered life,A mighty one has come in love,And for our sakes endured its strife;Endured a strife beyond all thought,And our salvation fully wrought;And out of sight e'en now He stands,Blending all changes for our good,And what He fully understandsBy us shall soon be understood.Then, nevermore shall there be pain,And nevermore shall there be night,But every good shall live again,And life shall be unshadowed light.
And so we banish all regretFor grief that we would not forget;And so we silence every fear,And so with memories drear and dearSuch wondrous, glorious hopes we twine,So glad, so sure, because divine.And we will sing as best we may,Till dawns for us that cloudless day.