Stanzas

Stanzas

Oh let me die in my primal day,

While my morning sun with brightness shines,

Ere this cold world chase my joys away,

Ere the blushing flower of life declines.

Oh let me die while life is young,

While feelings live and the passions play -

While the bounding heart to love is strung,

And affection warms in fancy's ray.

Oh let me die while joy is bright,

Ere the blissful hours of youth are flown;

While the soul is pure and the heart is light,

And sin and grief are all unknown.

Oh let me die before the woe,

The loneliness of age shall come;

While youth and hope still brightly glow,

The softly make my earthly tomb.

Methinks that I could calmly rest,

If spring flowers bloomed above my head -

Methinks it grief ne'er sered my breast,

'Twere sweet to sleep in my grassy bed.

And there will come they say a chill;

A dead'ning chill upon the heart,

When as early throbs of joy are still,

And the light of youth and hope depart.

Then let me die in my primal day,

While my morning sun with brightness shines,

Ere the cold world chase my joys away,

Ere the blushing flower of life declines.

Unattributed

1:28, p. 112

1827.09.21

Mourning Courier