LINES TO GRIEF.
COME Grief, and sing a solemn dirge Beneath this midnight shade; From central darkness now emerge, And tread the lonely glade.
This is the cheerless hour of night, For sorrow only made; When no intrusive rays of light, The silent gloom pervade.
Though such the darkness of my soul, Not such the calmness there; But waves of guilt tumultuous roll 'Midst billows of despair.
Fallacious Pleasure's tinsel train My soul rejects with scorn; If higher joys she can't attain, She'd rather choose to mourn.
For bliss superior she was made; Or for extreme despair; If pain awaits her past the dead, Why should she triumph here?