TIME AND CHANGE.
Reading edition
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BY ISAAC GRAY BLANCHARD.
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Time’s flood sweeps on with ceaseless flow,
And o’er all things that are below
Change hath his empire: every day
Some object testifies his sway,
The falling leaf, the fading flower
Show Change and Death are Nature’s dower;
And every day that passes o’er us
Takes something time shall not restore us;
Some dear delight, some hope in blossom,
Some cherished memory from our bosom,
Some holy impulse which Heaven lent us
When first on life’s fair voyage it sent us,
Some sunny hue of childhood bright,
That blest us with its lingering light,
Some pleasant friend, some earthly stay,
We fondly hoped to keep for aye,
These hearts of ours, though once so bright,
Have less and less of love’s young light;
The world has lost the charm it had,
Even Nature seems less green and glad,
And from our bosoms, shut and lone,
Faith, like a beauteous bird, has flown.
O, Time and Change! how strong ye be!
How unlike what we were are we!