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Shillaber, B. P. (Benjamin Penhallow), 1814-1890 [1859], Knitting-work: a web of many textures. (Brown, Taggard & Chase, Boston) [word count] [eaf676T]. To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.
Pleased with our loves and low desires, We sit like children midst the flowers, No thought our listless soul inspires, Or wakes to life its nobler powers; We feel the sunshine round us glow, And smile in imbecile content, Letting the golden moments go That heaven for ripe fruition meant. As one by one our idols fade, We moping sit and weakly sigh That earthly loves so frail are made, That earthly hopes should ever die! Amid the beauteous wreck we mourn Our altars prostrate in the dust, And to the opening future turn With heart of doubting and distrust. Captive we lie in flowery chains, By enervating pleasure bound, Forgetting life's broad battle-plains, Where work and its reward are found — Forgetting for the grovelling toys, Around our feet as meshes spread, E'er to look upward for the joys That hang in clusters o'er our head. How idle we to strive to hold The shadows that our joys eclipse, Or eat the fruit of seeming gold That breaks in ashes on our lips, When ready to our outstretched hand Celestial fruits their claims commend, The product of that promised land To which all manly strivings tend!
Shillaber, B. P. (Benjamin Penhallow), 1814-1890 [1859], Knitting-work: a web of many textures. (Brown, Taggard & Chase, Boston) [word count] [eaf676T]. |