Poems (Hale)/Life
For works with similar titles, see Life.
LIFE.
"O nostra vita! ch 'e si bella in vista."
At day's sweet dawn, the traveler's feetShrink not his destined path to meet;While, blithe and gay, his earnest eyeNor cloud nor danger can descry.
Sweet flowers perfume his dewy way;The sun sheds down his golden ray;And birds breathe forth their matin song,His heart's deep rapture to prolong.
Fresh hopes new dreams of beauty wake;Fresh charms upon his vision break:.The glowing sky, the scented air,Alike bring peace and gladness there.
Thus is it with life's fitful dream:In youth, its visioned glories beamWith hopes as fair, and ray as bright,As usher in morn's welcome light.
As cloudless suns the sky illume,And flowers as bright the air perfume:Music awakes a strain as sweet,The pilgrim's listening ear to greet.
What though life's radiant dreams decay,As visions fade at break of day? Though time's sad trophies we behold,And Faith grows dim, and Hope is cold?—
A day shall burst upon our sight,Gemmed with the rays of heavenly light;And gloom before those beams shall flee,Whose fountain is eternity.