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 viewThy 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.
When all in quiet rest recline,Alone I feel the direful pressOf 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 shadeNo ray of hope can more appear.
Why is this happy, peaceful homeMade 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 breatheEnlivening solace through each heart,That thy keen tortures cause to grieve.
Then shall each tranquil morn againBe 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.
When o'er the lawn the floweret fairSprings forth in vernal beauty free,Or autumn's sallow tint,—and whenStern winter strips the fading tree.
Still pleasure, hovering o'er each sceneIn fancied visions, from afar,Shall, with hope's smile serene, againGlide 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.
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?
But hush, my wayward spirit; yieldObedience to thy Sovereign God:Then shall thy wounded heart be healed,And bless him for affliction's rod.
When Jesus to thy soul revealsHis heavenly charms, his dying love,And with his Holy Spirit sealsThine interest in the joys above,
Then shall this heart no more repine,No more shall flow the bitter tear:Adoring love and faith divineShall banish every anxious fear.