LIII — 1865-1866
[Published in Good Words for March 1, 1868 as a decorative page, with an accompanying full page plate by T. Dalziel. The lines were never reprinted.]
I stood on a tower in the wet,
And New Year and Old Year met,
And winds were roaring and blowing;
And I said, ‘O years that meet in tears,
Have ye aught that is worth the knowing?
‘Science enough and exploring
Wanderers coming and going
Matter enough for deploring
But aught that is worth the knowing?’
Seas at my feet were flowing
Waves on the shingle pouring,
Old Year roaring and blowing
And New Year blowing and roaring.