Classic Poem

" O cast away your sorrow; —
A while, at least, be gay!
If grief must come tomorrow,
At least, be glad today!

" How can you still be sighing
When smiles are everywhere?
The little birds are flying
So blithely through the air;

" The sunshine glows so brightly
O'er all the blooming earth;
And every heart beats lightly, —
Each face is full of mirth."

" I always feel the deepest gloom
When day most brightly shines:
When Nature shows the fairest bloom,
My spirit most repines;

" For, in the brightest noontide glow,
The dungeon's light is dim;
Though freshest winds around us blow,
No breath can visit him .

" If he must sit in twilight gloom,
Can I enjoy the sight
Of mountains clad in purple bloom,
And rocks in sunshine bright? —

" My heart may well be desolate, —
These tears may well arise
While prison wall and iron grate
Oppress his weary eyes."

" But think of him tomorrow,
And join your comrades now; —
That constant cloud of sorrow
Ill suits so young a brow

" Hark, how their merry voices
Are sounding far and near!
While all the world rejoices
Can you sit moping here?"

" When others" hearts most lightly bound
Mine feels the most oppressed;
When smiling faces greet me round
My sorrow will not rest:

" I think of him whose faintest smile
Was sunshine to my heart,
Whose lightest word could care beguile
And blissful thoughts impart;

" I think how he would bless that sun,
And love this glorious scene;
I think of all that has been done,
And all that might have been.

" Those sparkling eyes, that blessed me so,
Are dim with weeping now;
And blighted hope and burning woe
Have ploughed that marble brow.

" What waste of youth, what hopes destroyed,
What days of pining care,
What weary nights of comfort void
Art thou condemned to bear!

" O! if my love must suffer so —
And wholly for my sake —
What marvel that my tears should flow, —
Or that my heart should break!"