Resignation--A Poem

Resignation--A Poem

Man born to sorrow, even from the womb,

Seeks for that vision, Happiness, in vain -

He courts it to the entrance of his tomb,

Through days of trouble and through years of pain.

He seeks it in all sublunary things, -

In riches which will perish and decay;

For wealth soon plies the pinion of her wings,

And in her golden chariot flies away.

He seeks it on the "damask cheek" of love -

That period sweet - that pleasurable above,

Heaven may cement and bless from above

But ruthless Death unlinks the holy chain.

He seeks it in the confidence of man,

In friendship's dear, but prostituted name,

But worldly Friendship, faithful to its plan,

Can light or quench at will, that ready flame.

He seeks it ever - in the hall - the cot -

In verdant meadow, or in mountain wave -

"Till all he leaves behind him is forgot,

And all he sees before him is - the Grave.

Lo! the Divine,* in deep reflection cries,

While inspiration moves his sacred tongue

"Earth's highest title ends in "here he lies,"

"And "dust to dust" proclaims his noblest song.

Son of misfortune, has thy early spring

Been blighted ere the blowing of thy flowers?

Or has cold sorrow's intervening wing

Excluded sunshine - intercepted showers?

Hast thou discovered in that sorrow aught

To live or love, for in the world or men?

One single consolation they have brought,

To claim remark from they recording pen?

To note it as a miracle on earth,

As seen by chance, though evermore desir'd,

A virtue of an unexpected birth,

Which breath'd this moment, and the next expir'd.

No - in they mournful chronicles the world

Is mark'd with tasks unprofitably done,

And when the scroll is to thine eye unfurl'd,

Read "all is vanity beneath the sun."

Bow with submission to the will of God, -

Yield to the blow, however hard thy fate;

In humble Resignation kiss the rod -

In temp'rance, patience, and submission wait.

The favor'd Monarch** of fam'd Israel's throne,

Fell from its honours in a single day:

No God - no crown - no Kingdom could he own,

And Shimei cursed him on his banish'd way.

The monarch heard - nor punished yet the word,

But bow'd his sacred head to insults worse,

Resign'd - he bade his servant sheathe his sword,

And said "behold the Lord hath bid him curse."

The man of Uz,*** beyond all other's blest

In what kind Heaven and yielding earth could give,

Had more of anguish pour'd into his breast

Than any other man could feel - and live.

A Prince in splendor - in possessions vast,

Beyond example with contentment stor'd

Beggar'd, and smitten by a single blast -

He saw - he felt - and said "It is the Lord."

Oh! wait with patience - many see the day

Of clouds, and storm, and darkness, and afright -

Tomorrow breaks an unexpected ray

And warms their bosoms with redoubled light.

____
* Dr. Young. ** David. *** Job.




Some men have wander'd friendless through the land,

Through dangers where the brave might stand aghast;

The eye of Faith still saw God's breaking hand,

And found a solace and a home at last.

Some too have look'd upon their vacant purse,

When to its owner it had nought to give; -

A heavenly agent dissipates the curse,

And bids the hopeless victim "rise and live."

Think how the Widow's cruise of oil was spar'd,

Still day by day increasing more and more,

Till plenty's fullness, and in plenty shar'd,

Nor did her meal reduce its needful store.

So may a present want be soon supplied,

A small possession make a large increase,

Some good Samaritan, who ne'er denied,

Will pour the balm of pity and of peace.

Think'st thou the mourner, that they sorrow's sting

Is less that that which good Elijah bore?

Or dost thou doubt the Raven's sable wing

Is less obedient than it was before?

No! No! be comforted - but be thy love

As firm, as fix'd, immutable - as sure,

On him, whose hand dispenses from above

As when thou wast in comfort - and art poor.

This is the touchstone of a Christian heart,

Firm to its faith, although the soul may grieve,

To feel a blessing in the pungent smart

To groan - yet triumph - suffer - yet believe.

Oh! trust in patience - hoping, trust the Lord,

Although unstrung they harp of joy may be;

Yet may it give a most harmonious chord,

To bless the minstrel in the minstrelsy.

Then learn thy solace in thy prayer of praise,

The sure successor to the prayer of woe -

With holy David, holy rapture rais'd -

In strains more lively let they numbers flow.

Like him wrapt up in meditation deep;

Dwell on his wond'rous love - his mighty ways,

Whose eyes ne'er slumber - nor in watching sleep,

But sees thy nights s clearly as they days.

Like him invoke the sacred God of light,

Like him draw down the heavenly healing balm,

Like him in rapture take they holy flight -

Like him response the all consoling balm.*

There never liv'd the man who lov'd his God;

Whose life though chequer'd was not somehow bless'd

Upon his body never scourg'd the rod,

And left his all confiding soul unblest.

There never was - who fix'd his thoughts above,

Whoe'er regretted through a world's rebuke -

Nor one who trusting in a God of love,

That loving God at any time forsook.

There never is - that bows the suppliant knee

That sues for pity at the shrine of prayer;

But Heaven, in kind approving smile will see,

And write forgiveness when he asks it there.

There never will be - but the good are fed,

When friends and riches are entirely gone -

Who prays sincerely for his "daily bread,"

And humbly asking, prays "Thy will be done."

----- * "Oh could I so perfidious be, To think of once deserting thee."

James Grocott, Jun.

1:24, p. 96; 1:25, p. 100

1827.08.24