Classic Poem

Songs are we, our father sends us
Through the world afar to roam;
Where the critic's spleen attends us,
On the stage he bid us come.
Deem us not too overweening,
Lend us a propitious ear
Whilst — your kind indulgence praying —
We our prologue brief are saying;
Once did frogs with croak unmeaning
On the Grecian stage appear!

Some may choose to call us mournful,
Weeping, grieving ceaselessly;
Some — that we of life are scornful,
Making men and mice to die .
Yet should each on youth who ponders,
Youth, with fullest life that glows,
Know — the vine doth weep, tho' teeming;
Yea, the vine whose juice, dark-gleaming,
'Mid the gifts that Autumn squanders,
Kindling strength and gladness, flows.

Yet, although to boast were folly,
Some of us are here to-day
Whence hot summer suns have wholly
Dried the dew of tears away:
As, of yore, the Jester sprightly
Hand in hand with Death would pace,
Some are cheerful, some distressing,
Some — 'tis hoped — some wit possessing;
Truthful lays may oft run lightly,
Free from idle sorrow's trace.

Ballads are we — mere romances,
Framed with touches light and few;
Every soul that sings or dances,
Pipes or harps, may run them through.
Yet the thoughtful man, essaying
Gentle hints with care to find,
Here and there may soon discover
Deeper thoughts veiled lightly over:
Every part to him betraying
One sole source — our Author's mind.

Should too many seem but trifles,
Think, they mark this age of strife,
Which — like snow deep-drifted — stifles
Every sign of struggling life.
When we groaned 'neath Thraldom's rigour,
Song declined beneath its blight;
Now that, long extinct in ashes,
German Freedom brightly flashes,
Soon shall Song win life and vigour,
Soaring in unclouded light.

May we then but herald others,
Other more exalted rimes,
Larger-statured, stronger brothers,
Rising up in after times.
Lest we should but promise vainly,
This we leave to Heaven above.
Ye perchance, more skilled in seeing
Future things by those in being,
By these opening buds may plainly
Guess at what the fruit will prove!