Mirth and mourning

'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!'