Poems (Sharpless)/Tide of Time
TIDE OF TIME
Roll back, roll back, oh tide of time, Upon thy rock-ribbed shore;Give me the friends I knew lang syne, But never shall know more.
Give me the buds of radiant glow, Those buds of trust and faith;Brighter than stars they used to blow, And lovely e'en in death.
Give me again the happy heart That gathered honey whereIt uses every searching art To garner up despair;
Give me the fond caressing smile, The gentle look, the toneThat all my childish woes beguiled; Too early are they gone.
Roll back, relentless tide of time, Too many treasures lieUpon that rugged shore of thine To pass them careless by.
Still on, still on, thy steady stream Moves to eternity,—And only in my fancy's dream Can I these treasures see.
The shore beyond is gray and rough; Behind, it fairer shines,—But I have lingered long enough Mid dreams of auld lang syne.
The future claims my throbbing heart; No more of dreams for me;Friends of my earlier years, we part; Our meeting Heaven shall see.