'Yet some, who all this while did weep and sing, O fools-said I—thus to prefer dark night To live in grots and caves, and hate the day The way, which from this dead and dark abode A way where you might tread the sun, and be But as I did their madness so discuss, One whispered thus, "This ring the Bride-groom did for none provide, But for His Bride." Henry Vaughan [1622–1695] THE WHITE ISLAND In this world, the Isle of Dreams, But when once from hence we fly, Uniting: In that whiter island, where There no monstrous fancies shall Out of Hell an horror call, To create (or cause at all) There in calm and cooling sleep Pleasures such as shall pursue Robert Herrick [1591-1674] "THIS WORLD IS ALL A FLEETING SHOW" THIS world is all a fleeting show, For man's illusion given; The smiles of joy, the tears of woe, There's nothing true but Heaven! And false the light on glory's plume, And love, and hope, and beauty's bloom Poor wanderers of a stormy day, And fancy's flash and reason's ray Serve but to light the troubled way,- Thomas Moore [1779-1852] THE LAND O' THE LEAL I'm wearin' awa', John, Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, John. I'm wearin' awa' To the land o' the leal. 'There's nae sorrow there, John, There's neither cauld nor care, John, 'The day is aye fair In the land o' the leal. Our bonnie bairn's there, John, She was baith gude and fair, John; To the land o' the leal. But sorrow's sel' wears past, John, The joy that's aye to last In the land o' the leal. Sae dear's that joy was bought, John, To the land o' the leal. O, dry your glistening e'e, John! To the land o' the leal. O, haud ye leal and true, John! To the land o' the leal. Now fare-ye-weel, my ain John, This warld's cares are vain, John, We'll meet, and we'll be fain, In the land o' the leal. Carolina Nairne [1766-1845] HEAVENWARD WOULD you be young again? So would not I One tear to memory given, Onward I'd hie. Life's dark flood forded o'er, Say, would you plunge once more, If you might, would you now Wander through thorny wilds, Night's gloomy watches fled, Morning all beaming red, Hope's smiles around us shed, Where are they gone, of yore Dear and more dear, though now Where they rejoice to be, There is the land for me; Fly time-fly speedily, Come life and light. Carolina Nairne [1766-1845] "REST IS NOT HERE" WHAT'S this vain world to me? Rest is not here; False are the smiles I see, Where is youth's joyful glee? Where all once dear to me? Gone as the shadows flee- Why did the morning shine Why did those tints so fine Vanish in air? Does not the vision say, Where souls angelic soar, Let this vain world no more That heaven I love so well Rest is found there. Carolina Nairne [1766-1845] AT HOME IN HEAVEN PART I "FOR EVER with the Lord!" Amen! so let it be! Life from the dead is in that word, 'Tis immortality. Here in the body pent, Absent from Him I roam, Yet nightly pitch my moving tent My Father's house on high, Home of my soul! how near, Ah! then my spirit faints To reach the land I love, The bright inheritance of saints, Jerusalem above! Yet clouds will intervene, And all my prospect flies; Like Noah's dove, I flit between Rough seas and stormy skies. |