Poems (Taggart)/An Apostrophe to Sorrow
AN APOSTROPHE TO SORROW;THE SORROW OF THIS WORLD.1826.
O Sorrow! sad and dismal guest,
Where'er I turn my longing eye,
(In vain to seek relief,) I view
Thy dread appearance hovering nigh.
Where'er I turn my longing eye,
(In vain to seek relief,) I view
Thy dread appearance hovering nigh.
At morning's dawn and evening's close,
The poignant pangs relentless rend;
And when the happy seek repose,
Thine agonizing woes descend.
The poignant pangs relentless rend;
And when the happy seek repose,
Thine agonizing woes descend.
When all in quiet rest recline,
Alone I feel the direful press
Of thy cold, heavy, marble hand,
That tortures with extreme distress
Alone I feel the direful press
Of thy cold, heavy, marble hand,
That tortures with extreme distress
Where'er I look, or seek for aid,
That darkening form is ever near,
And through its hovering, gloomy shade
No ray of hope can more appear.
That darkening form is ever near,
And through its hovering, gloomy shade
No ray of hope can more appear.
Why is this happy, peaceful home
Made the dire seat of thine abode,—
Where hope's bright smiles once softly shone,
And gentle quiet sweetly flowed?
Made the dire seat of thine abode,—
Where hope's bright smiles once softly shone,
And gentle quiet sweetly flowed?
O leave this lowly, humble seat!
Once more let mild contentment breathe
Enlivening solace through each heart,
That thy keen tortures cause to grieve.
Once more let mild contentment breathe
Enlivening solace through each heart,
That thy keen tortures cause to grieve.
Then shall each tranquil morn again
Be hailed with sounds of grateful joy;
And placid peace, with thoughts serene,
The soft declining hours employ,—
Be hailed with sounds of grateful joy;
And placid peace, with thoughts serene,
The soft declining hours employ,—
The wild birds warbling through the air,
The gurgling streamlet's gentle flow,
The zephyr's breath, the falling shower,
Shall fill the soul with rapture's glow.
The gurgling streamlet's gentle flow,
The zephyr's breath, the falling shower,
Shall fill the soul with rapture's glow.
When o'er the lawn the floweret fair
Springs forth in vernal beauty free,
Or autumn's sallow tint,—and when
Stern winter strips the fading tree.
Springs forth in vernal beauty free,
Or autumn's sallow tint,—and when
Stern winter strips the fading tree.
Still pleasure, hovering o'er each scene
In fancied visions, from afar,
Shall, with hope's smile serene, again
Glide beauteous as the morning star.
In fancied visions, from afar,
Shall, with hope's smile serene, again
Glide beauteous as the morning star.
But whence this fond, delusive dream!
Those halcyon days have swiftly fled;
No morning's joys, nor evening's calm,
Can more their peaceful influence shed.
Those halcyon days have swiftly fled;
No morning's joys, nor evening's calm,
Can more their peaceful influence shed.
O Sorrow! whence this long delay,
Why lingerest here with blighting power?
O canst thou, canst thou not away,
And leave one blessed, tranquil hour?
Why lingerest here with blighting power?
O canst thou, canst thou not away,
And leave one blessed, tranquil hour?
But hush, my wayward spirit; yield
Obedience to thy Sovereign God:
Then shall thy wounded heart be healed,
And bless him for affliction's rod.
Obedience to thy Sovereign God:
Then shall thy wounded heart be healed,
And bless him for affliction's rod.
When Jesus to thy soul reveals
His heavenly charms, his dying love,
And with his Holy Spirit seals
Thine interest in the joys above,
His heavenly charms, his dying love,
And with his Holy Spirit seals
Thine interest in the joys above,
Then shall this heart no more repine,
No more shall flow the bitter tear:
Adoring love and faith divine
Shall banish every anxious fear.
No more shall flow the bitter tear:
Adoring love and faith divine
Shall banish every anxious fear.