Poems (Taggart)/To a Cousin
TO A COUSIN.1827.
Once free as breath of opening flowers
Elastic health respired,
And, through the gladsome, golden hours,
Met the calm eve untired;
Elastic health respired,
And, through the gladsome, golden hours,
Met the calm eve untired;
Where o'er the soft and vermil west
Bright beams ethereal played;
And through the pleased and placid breast,
Bliss' brighter vision strayed;
Bright beams ethereal played;
And through the pleased and placid breast,
Bliss' brighter vision strayed;
Till the calm hour of sweet repose
Embraced the wearied frame,
And o'er the lids a downy joy
In sleep's soft influence came.
Embraced the wearied frame,
And o'er the lids a downy joy
In sleep's soft influence came.
But now farewell to peace and joy,
And all that earth can yield:
Anguish and pain my soul employ,
And Hope's bright gates are sealed.
And all that earth can yield:
Anguish and pain my soul employ,
And Hope's bright gates are sealed.
Farewell to thee! no more we pass
The social hours of peace;
No more together view the scenes
That joy's glad thrills increase.
The social hours of peace;
No more together view the scenes
That joy's glad thrills increase.
Yet thou may'st happiness partake,
And life and health enjoy;
With thy congenial friend be blest,
And pleased thy hours employ.
And life and health enjoy;
With thy congenial friend be blest,
And pleased thy hours employ.
But sickness claims my wasting form,
My broken spirit bends;
While misery, with unceasing storm,
On my crushed heart decends.
My broken spirit bends;
While misery, with unceasing storm,
On my crushed heart decends.