Stanzas

Stanzas

Why rove so oft from clime to clime

In search of pleasures driven?

Fate has pronounced throughout all time,

This world is not a Heaven!

Why toil for honour, wealth or fame,

Our hearts to dross so given?

These, as they pass ONE truth proclaim,

This world is not a heaven!

Why do we part with Friendship rare,

For those less kindly thriven?

They mock our hopes and then declare

This world is not a Heaven!

Why do we still blind Fortune sue,

Our schemes so often riven?

She lures to cheat, then proves how true

This world is not a Heaven!

We seek such empty joys below,

From early morn to even?

These fleeting forms but only show

This world is not a Heaven!

There is a joy that ne'er deceives,

The joy of sins forgiven;

This, from the doubts of Earth relieves,

And points the truer Heaven!

Unattributed

2:19, p. 151

1828.08.01

From the Philadelphia Post