WRITTENAYEARAFTERTHEEVENTS

writtenayearaftertheevents

alas!howamichang'd!wherebethetears,

thesobs,andforc'dsuspensionsofthebreath,

andallthedulldesertionsoftheheart,

withwhichihungo'ermydeadmother'scorse?

wherebetheblestsubsidingsofthestorm

within,thesweetresignednessofhope

drawnheavenward,andstrengthoffiliallove

inwhichibow'dmetomyfather'swill?

mygod,andmyredeemer!keepnotthou

mysoulinbruteandsensualthanklessness

seal'dup;obliviouseverofthatdeargrace,

andhealthrestor'dtomylong-lovedfriend,

long-lov'd,andworthyknown.thoudidstnotleave

hersoulindeath!oleavenotnow,mylord,

thyservantsinfarworse,inspiritualdeath!

anddarknessblackerthanthosefearedshadows

ofthevalleyallmusttread.lendusthybalms,

thoudearphysicianofthesin-sicksoul,

andhealourcleansedbosomsofthewounds

withwhichtheworldhaspierc'dusthro'andthro'.

giveusnewflesh,newbirth.electofheav'n

maywebecome;inthineelectionsure

contain'd,andtoonepurposestedfastdrawn,

oursoul'ssalvation!

thou,andi,dearfriend,

withfilialrecognitionsweet,shallknow

onedaythefaceofourdearmotherinheaven;

andherremember'dlooksofloveshallgreet

withlooksofansweringlove;herplacidsmiles

meetwithasmileasplacid,andherhand

withdropsoffondnesswet,norfearrepulse.

bewitnessforme,lord,idonotask

thosedaysofvanitytoreturnagain

(norfittingmetoask,northeetogive),

vainlovesandwanderingswithafair-hair'dmaid,

childofthedustasiam,whosolong

mycaptiveheartsteep'dinidolatry

andcreature-loves.forgiveme,omymaker!

ifinamoodofgriefisinalmost

insometimesbroodingonthedayslongpast,

andfromthegraveoftimewishingthemback,

daysofamother'sfondnesstoherchild,

herlittleone.

owherebenowthosesports,

andinfantplay-games?wherethejoyoustroops

ofchildren,andthehauntsididsolove?

omycompanions,oyelovednames

offriendorplaymatedear;goneareyenow;

gonediverseways;tohonourandcreditsome,