Southern Christian Advocate

A FEW SHORT YEARS.
A few short years-and then
What changes Time hath wrought !
So strange they seem, we scarce can deem
The world, our life, ourselves, are aught
But one long fitful dream.
The clouds that fly
Across the sky ;
Waves tossed upon the sea ;
Shadows that pass
Before a glass,
Our fitting emblems be.
A few short years-and then
Where are the hopes that shone
When youth with flowers inwreathed the hours,
And earth had but one music tone
Of joy for us and ours?
The rainbow's hues,
The morning's dews,
The blossoms of a day,
The trembling sheen
On water seen,
More stable are than they.
A few short years-and then
Where is the adamant chain,
That passion wrought, and madly thought
Nor time nor change could ever strain,
Till life last strife was fought ?
A rope of sand
A gossamer band,
The filmy threads that e'en
The spider Weaves
Among the leaves,
A firmer bond had been.
A few short years-and then
Where is Ambition's pile,
That rose so high against the sky.
O'ershadowing all around the while
With its proud boast might vie ?
A shadow's shade,
A card-house made
By children for their play;
The air blown bells
That folly swells
May vaunt a surer stay.
A few short years-and then
Where is the mighty grief
That wrung the heart with torture's art
And made it feel that its relief
Time's hand could ne'er impart ?
A storm that's burst
And done its worst,
Then left the heaven more clear ;
A nightmare dread
With morrow fled,
There sorrows now appear.
A few short years-and then
What of our life remains,
The smiles and tears of other years,
Of passion's joys, of sorrow's pains,
Ambition's hopes and fears?