BETA

Contrasts.

Contrasts ! they take it as a graceful theme,1
Gay children, playing at the feet of song ;2
The young hearts only knowing change and wrong,3
As the dark shadows on the dancing stream,4
Or the vague terrors threatening in a dream,5
Where the thick-coming fancies mating throng6
’Neath morning’s steady glow to fade ere long ;7
So to frank youth life’s clouds and sunlight seem,8
But we, outwearied by the march of life,9
Faint, with the burthen, fearful of the goal,10
Baffled and beaten in the endless strife11
That tires the heart and crushes down the soul ;12
Embittered, worn, thwarted, and broken thus,13
How does the hard word, “ contrasts,” sound to us?14
Have we not shivered as the garish light15
Dazzled across our darling’s death-cold brows ?16
And shrunk to see the crimson summer rose17
Glowing and flaunting where the cross stands white,18
And all we loved lies buried out of sight ?19
Have we not felt how hard the task-work grows,20
When loud and shrill the victor trumpet blows,21
And our lost battle dies away in flight ?22
Have we not yearned for Fortune’s least worst gift,23
While her crowned favourites waste their lavish
store ?24
Have we not learnt down Fate’s black stream to
drift,25
While they laugh careless on the further shore ?26
What keener contrast ! phrase for pastime given ?27
Life’s bitter riddle to be read in heaven !28