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When one by one our friends have gone
And left our bosoms bleeding？
Heaven gives our years of fading strength
Indemnifying fleetness；
And those of youth； a seeming length；
Proportioned to their sweetness。
Thomas Campbell ＇1777…1844＇
〃LONG TIME A CHILD〃
Long time a child； and still a child； when years
Had painted manhood on my check； was I； …
For yet I lived like one not born to die；
A thriftless prodigal of smiles and tears；
No hope I needed； and I knew no fears。
But sleep； though sweet； is only sleep； and waking；
I waked to sleep no more； at once o'ertaking
The vanguard of my age； with all arrears
Of duty on my back。 Nor child； nor man；
Nor youth； nor sage； I find my head is gray；
For I have lost the race I never ran：
A rathe December blights my lagging May；
And still I am a child； though I be old：
Time is my debtor for my years untold。
Hartley Coleridge ＇1796…1849＇
THE WORLD I AM PASSING THROUGH
Few； in the days of early youth；
Trusted like me in love and truth。
I've learned sad lessons from the years；
But slowly； and with many tears；
For God made me to kindly view
The world that I was passing through。
How little did I once believe
That friendly tones could e'er deceive！
That kindness； and forbearance long；
Might meet ingratitude and wrong！
I could not help but kindly view
The world that I was passing through。
And though I've learned some souls are base；
I would not； therefore； hate the race；
I still would bless my fellow men；
And trust them； though deceived again。
God help me still to kindly view
The world that I am passing through！
Through weary conflicts I have passed；
And struggled into rest at last；
Such rest as when the rack has broke
A joint； or nerve； at every stroke。
The wish survives to kindly view
The world that I am passing through。
From all that fate has brought to me
I strive to learn humility；
And trust in Him who rules above；
Whose universal law is love。
Thus only can I kindly view
The world that I am passing through。
When I approach the setting sun；
And feel my journey nearly done；
May earth be veiled in genial light；
And her last smile to me seem bright！
Help me till then to kindly view
The world that I am passing through！
And all who tempt a trusting heart
From faith and hope to drift apart； …
May they themselves be spared the pain
Of losing power to trust again！
God help us all to kindly view
The world that we are passing through！
Lydia Maria Child ＇1802…1880＇
TERMINUS
It is time to be old；
To take in sail： …
The god of bounds；
Who sets to seas a shore；
Came to me in his fatal rounds；
And said： 〃No more！
No farther shoot
Thy broad ambitious branches； and thy root。
Fancy departs： no more invent；
Contract thy firmament
To compass of a tent。
There's not enough for this and that；
Make thy option which of two；
Economize the failing river；
Not the less revere the Giver；
Leave the many and hold the few。
Timely wise accept the terms；
Soften the fall with wary foot；
A little while
Still plan and smile；
And； … fault of novel germs； …
Mature the unfallen fruit。
Curse； if thou wilt； thy sires；
Bad husbands of their fires；
Who； when they gave thee breath；
Failed to bequeath
The needful sinew stark as once；
The Baresark marrow to thy bones；
But left a legacy of ebbing veins；
Inconstant heat and nerveless reins； …
Amid the Muses； left thee deaf and dumb；
Amid the Gladiators； halt and numb。〃
As the bird trims her to the gale；
I trim myself to the storm of time；
I man the rudder； reef the sail；
Obey the voice at eve obeyed at prime：
〃Lowly faithful； banish fear；
Right onward drive unharmed；
The port； well worth the cruise； is near；
And every wave is charmed。〃
Ralph Waldo Emerson ＇1803…1882＇
RABBI BEN EZRA
Grow old along with me！
The best is yet to be；
The last of life； for which the first was made：
Our times are in his hand
Who saith 〃A whole I planned；
Youth shows but half； trust God： see all； nor be afraid！〃
Not that； amassing flowers；
Youth sighed； 〃Which rose make ours；
Which lily leave and then as best recall？〃
Not that； admiring stars；
It yearned； 〃Nor Jove； nor Mars；
Mine be some figured flame which blends； transcends them all！〃
Not for such hopes and fears
Annulling youth's brief years；
Do I remonstrate： folly wide the mark！
Rather I prize the doubt
Low kinds exist without。
Finished and finite clods； untroubled by a spark。
Poor vaunt of life indeed；
Were man but formed to feed
On joy； to solely seek and find and feast：
Such feasting ended； then
As sure an end to men；
Irks care the crop…full bird？ Frets doubt the maw…crammed beast？
Rejoice we are allied
To that which doth provide
And not partake； effect and not receive！
A spark disturbs our clod；
Nearer we hold of God
Who gives； than of his tribes that take； I must believe。
Then； welcome each rebuff
That turns earth's smoothness rough；
Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go！
Be our joys three…parts pain！
Strive； and hold cheap the strain；
Learn； nor account the pang； dare； never grudge the throe！
For thence； … a paradox
Which comforts while it mocks； …
Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail：
What I aspired to be；
And was not； comforts me：
A brute I might have been； but would not sink i' the scale。
What is he but a brute
Whose flesh has soul to suit；
Whose spirit works lest arms and legs want play？
To man； propose this test …
Thy body at its best；
How far can that project thy soul on its lone way？
Yet gifts should prove their use：
I own the Past profuse
Of power each side； perfection every turn：
Eyes； ears took in their dole；
Brain treasured up the whole：
Should not the heart beat once 〃How good to live and learn〃？
Not once beat 〃Praise be thine！
I see the whole design；
I； who saw power； see now Love perfect too：
Perfect I call thy plan：
Thanks that I was a man！
Maker； remake； complete； … I trust what thou shalt do！〃
For pleasant is this flesh；
Our soul； in its rose…mesh
Pulled ever to the earth； still yearns for rest：
Would we some prize might hold
To match those manifold
Possessions of the brute； … gain most； as we did best！
Let us not always say；
〃Spite of this flesh to…day
I strove； made head； gained ground upon the whole！〃
As the bird wings and sings；
Let us cry； 〃All good things
Are ours； nor soul helps flesh more； now； than flesh helps soul！〃
Therefore I summon age
To grant youth's heritage；
Life's struggle having so far reached its term：
Thence shall I pass； approved
A man； for aye removed
From the developed brute； a God though in the germ。
And I shall thereupon
Take rest； ere I be gone
Once more on my adventure brave and new：
Fearless and