We Never Know
Ah, me! we never know
What cold, wild winds may blow
Across the springtime’s balmy promise, sweet—
By what untimely frost
The fruit germs may be lost,
And rosy petals beaten down with sleet.
The eyes that glow tonight
With childhood’s loving light,
To-morrow may, with pallid lids be veiled—
The bounding pulse be stilled,
Life’s crimson current chilled,
And rich, red lips with Death’s cold kisses paled.
We never know the fate
So near, until too late;
Tho’ oft the black-winged demon’s shadow falls
In heavy gloom upon the heart—
A thousand dreads upstart,
Yet onward, all, until the shock appalls.
Warm love anticipates,
With open arms awaits,
’Till hissing wires the stunning message brings.
Oh, God! the wild despair
That hushes e’en the voice of prayer,
And makes the soul forget all offerings.
Such sudden, crushing grief!
Hope, rising, scouts belief,
But falls down, prone, before the sorrow-flashing wires.
Hear Sympathy’s whispered tone,
Oh, ye, who sit alone,
With but the light of memory’s altar fires.