Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
September 24, 1841
The Spirit Of The Age
Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A song-like poem portraying life's journey as a gliding stream through stages from childhood's innocence, youth's joy, adulthood's trials, to old age's rest, invoking blessings of happiness and maternal love, with divine guidance at the end.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE STREAM OF LIFE.
AIR--The Bonny Boat.
Oh! softly glides life's quiet stream,
By childhood's peaceful shore,
While all is like an angel's dream,
That flits its gaze before.
Oh may thy heart throb light, fair child,
Beneath thy mother's eye—
And long retain the hues so mild,
Of infancy's pure sky.
Now swifter on the crisp'd waves flow,
Youth's sunny banks between,
While fancy's light, with mellow glow,
Gilds o'er the fairer scene;
Oh happy prove, thy voyage boy,
Adown the treacherous tide,
While she, thy soul's first leaping joy,
Is seated by thy side.
Still on! the restless stream goes on
Now broke by many a gale
While thronging mists come up anon
And fitful tempests wail.
Still happy prove thy voyage man,
Though never on the sea,
Love's wing thy darkened soul shall fan,
Nor flowers bloom for thee.
Away! away! the frowning shore
Bends darkly o'er the wave,
And now those locks so thin and hoar,
Are scattered on the grave;
Still happy, happy, weary one,
God guide thee to thy rest,
And sweetly sleep, thy voyage done,
Upon thy mother's breast.
AIR--The Bonny Boat.
Oh! softly glides life's quiet stream,
By childhood's peaceful shore,
While all is like an angel's dream,
That flits its gaze before.
Oh may thy heart throb light, fair child,
Beneath thy mother's eye—
And long retain the hues so mild,
Of infancy's pure sky.
Now swifter on the crisp'd waves flow,
Youth's sunny banks between,
While fancy's light, with mellow glow,
Gilds o'er the fairer scene;
Oh happy prove, thy voyage boy,
Adown the treacherous tide,
While she, thy soul's first leaping joy,
Is seated by thy side.
Still on! the restless stream goes on
Now broke by many a gale
While thronging mists come up anon
And fitful tempests wail.
Still happy prove thy voyage man,
Though never on the sea,
Love's wing thy darkened soul shall fan,
Nor flowers bloom for thee.
Away! away! the frowning shore
Bends darkly o'er the wave,
And now those locks so thin and hoar,
Are scattered on the grave;
Still happy, happy, weary one,
God guide thee to thy rest,
And sweetly sleep, thy voyage done,
Upon thy mother's breast.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Life Stream
Childhood Innocence
Youth Joy
Adulthood Trials
Old Age Rest
Maternal Love
Divine Guidance
Poem Details
Title
The Stream Of Life.
Key Lines
Oh! Softly Glides Life's Quiet Stream,
By Childhood's Peaceful Shore,
While All Is Like An Angel's Dream,
That Flits Its Gaze Before.
Still Happy, Happy, Weary One,
God Guide Thee To Thy Rest,
And Sweetly Sleep, Thy Voyage Done,
Upon Thy Mother's Breast.