Page:A masque of poets 1878.djvu/21

 == AWAKENING. 15 ==

AWAKENING.

WELL-I said, it is all too true The story told to my childish ears, That tears were many and joys were few, And hopeless the weight of gathering years. I never believed a word of the tale, And turned to the sun and rejoiced in the day, But a blow struck home and the light grew pale Till bitter darkness beset the way. Oh, what is it all? (I pondered),-what This terrible life wherein we are set Defenceless, whether we will or not ; Where the swift years weave us a golden net Of joys so sweet and of hopes so bright, Only to rob us day by day, Slowly to take from the eyes their sight, Steal all the body s senses away, And deal to the soul such blows of loss Through the hand of Death?-and there I ceased,