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Poem
February 15, 1844
Virginia Free Press
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A meditative poem reflecting on life's journey from youthful dreams to aged regrets, attributing sorrows to self-made idols of trust and betrayal, and concluding that loving rightly transforms darkness into light.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Perchance it shall not then be seen
That this, our earthly path of tears,
So desolate a waste hath been
As to the mourner's eye appears.
When clearer light around us breaks,
Our eyes shall read their course below—
A dreary line of long mistakes,
Atoned by many a needless woe.
Our youth was passed in visions fair,
In lavishing the wealth of heart;
Our manhood had the harder care
Of watching all those dreams depart;
What was there left for sad old age,
Except in useless grief to rue
The errors of a pilgrimage
We could not, if we would, renew.
Yet in ourselves the evil lay,
Poor, weak artificers of woe!
Our idols all were made of clay,
But 'twas our hand that framed them so.
We needed some diviner call,
To teach our hearts alike to shun
The lovely fault of trusting all—
The bitter sin of trusting none.
Turn we then with vain disgust
From love betrayed and faith deceived,
Nor let our hearts forget to trust,
When they are wounded, wrung and grieved.
Take home this lesson—it is such
As turns Life's darkness into light.
O! we can never love too much,
If we will only love aright.
That this, our earthly path of tears,
So desolate a waste hath been
As to the mourner's eye appears.
When clearer light around us breaks,
Our eyes shall read their course below—
A dreary line of long mistakes,
Atoned by many a needless woe.
Our youth was passed in visions fair,
In lavishing the wealth of heart;
Our manhood had the harder care
Of watching all those dreams depart;
What was there left for sad old age,
Except in useless grief to rue
The errors of a pilgrimage
We could not, if we would, renew.
Yet in ourselves the evil lay,
Poor, weak artificers of woe!
Our idols all were made of clay,
But 'twas our hand that framed them so.
We needed some diviner call,
To teach our hearts alike to shun
The lovely fault of trusting all—
The bitter sin of trusting none.
Turn we then with vain disgust
From love betrayed and faith deceived,
Nor let our hearts forget to trust,
When they are wounded, wrung and grieved.
Take home this lesson—it is such
As turns Life's darkness into light.
O! we can never love too much,
If we will only love aright.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Love Courtship
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Life Pilgrimage
Trust Betrayal
Love Aright
Youth Dreams
Moral Reflection
Heart Woe
Poem Details
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Take Home This Lesson—It Is Such
As Turns Life's Darkness Into Light.
O! We Can Never Love Too Much,
If We Will Only Love Aright.
Yet In Ourselves The Evil Lay,
Poor, Weak Artificers Of Woe!
Our Idols All Were Made Of Clay,
But 'Twas Our Hand That Framed Them So.
We Needed Some Diviner Call,
To Teach Our Hearts Alike To Shun
The Lovely Fault Of Trusting All—
The Bitter Sin Of Trusting None.