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Literary
September 23, 1837
New Hampshire Statesman And State Journal
Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem titled 'MAN'S EXISTENCE' copied from the Knickerbocker, pondering the purpose of human life through its stages from infancy to death, concluding that existence prepares the soul for a sorrow-free heaven with God.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
POETRY.
The object of man's existence, is set forth
in the following lines, which we copy from the
Knickerbocker:-
MAN'S EXISTENCE.
Why are we here?
The infant wail,
While resting on its mother's breast,
With feeble tongue begins the tale,
Then passeth to a better rest;
A fleeting smile-a fallen tear,
Why are we here? why are we here?
Why are we here? The bud of hope,
That springs in childhood's happy hour,
Lies crushed, ere yet its blossoms ope,
Beneath dull care's all withering power;
Fit emblem of man's weak career,-
Why are we here?—why are we here?
Why are we here? As brief as frail
Is man's maturity and prime;
Lone wand'rer down life's stormy vale—
Swift voyager of fleeting time!
A breath-a thought-and death is near;
Why are we here?--why are we here?
Why are we here? That silvery hair,
Those palsied limbs bespeak decay;
Those feeble eyeballs' sightless glare
Too surely tell life's cooling day;
The trial o'er-man on his bier,-
Why are we here?-why are we here?
Why are we here? Behold yon star,
In splendour beaming o'er the sea!
E'en thus the souls of virtue are,
When purged from earth, from sorrow free;
In heaven no sorrow can appear,
For this we're here-for this we're here!
Why are we here? Who could but choose
Though thrice earth's cares beset the road,
To toil life's chequer'd journey through,
And dwell eternally with God?
To fit us for that glorious sphere,-
For this we're here-for this we're here!
The object of man's existence, is set forth
in the following lines, which we copy from the
Knickerbocker:-
MAN'S EXISTENCE.
Why are we here?
The infant wail,
While resting on its mother's breast,
With feeble tongue begins the tale,
Then passeth to a better rest;
A fleeting smile-a fallen tear,
Why are we here? why are we here?
Why are we here? The bud of hope,
That springs in childhood's happy hour,
Lies crushed, ere yet its blossoms ope,
Beneath dull care's all withering power;
Fit emblem of man's weak career,-
Why are we here?—why are we here?
Why are we here? As brief as frail
Is man's maturity and prime;
Lone wand'rer down life's stormy vale—
Swift voyager of fleeting time!
A breath-a thought-and death is near;
Why are we here?--why are we here?
Why are we here? That silvery hair,
Those palsied limbs bespeak decay;
Those feeble eyeballs' sightless glare
Too surely tell life's cooling day;
The trial o'er-man on his bier,-
Why are we here?-why are we here?
Why are we here? Behold yon star,
In splendour beaming o'er the sea!
E'en thus the souls of virtue are,
When purged from earth, from sorrow free;
In heaven no sorrow can appear,
For this we're here-for this we're here!
Why are we here? Who could but choose
Though thrice earth's cares beset the road,
To toil life's chequer'd journey through,
And dwell eternally with God?
To fit us for that glorious sphere,-
For this we're here-for this we're here!
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Mans Existence
Life Stages
Mortality
Heaven
Purpose
Soul
God
What entities or persons were involved?
From The Knickerbocker
Literary Details
Title
Man's Existence.
Author
From The Knickerbocker
Subject
The Object Of Man's Existence
Key Lines
Why Are We Here? The Infant Wail,
While Resting On Its Mother's Breast,
With Feeble Tongue Begins The Tale,
Then Passeth To A Better Rest;
A Fleeting Smile A Fallen Tear,
Why Are We Here? Why Are We Here?
Why Are We Here? Behold Yon Star,
In Splendour Beaming O'er The Sea!
E'en Thus The Souls Of Virtue Are,
When Purged From Earth, From Sorrow Free;
In Heaven No Sorrow Can Appear,
For This We're Here For This We're Here!
Why Are We Here? Who Could But Choose
Though Thrice Earth's Cares Beset The Road,
To Toil Life's Chequer'd Journey Through,
And Dwell Eternally With God?
To Fit Us For That Glorious Sphere,
For This We're Here For This We're Here!