The Two Children

Heavy hangs the rain-dropFrom the burdened spray;Heavy broods the damp mistOn uplands far away.

Heavy looms the dull sky,Heavy rolls the sea;And heavy throbs the young heartBeneath that lonely tree.

Never has a blue streakCleft the clouds since morn;Never has his grim fateSmiled since he was born.

Frowning on the infant,Shadowing childhood's joyGuardian-angel knows notThat melancholy boy.

Day is passing swiftlyIts sad and sombre prime;Boyhood sad is mergingIn sadder manhood's time:All the flowers are prayingFor sun, before they close,And he prays too—unconscious—That sunless human rose.

Blossom—that the west-windHas never wooed to blow,Scentless are thy petals,Thy dew is cold as snow!

Soul—where kindred kindness,No early promise woke,Barren is thy beauty,As weed upon a rock.

Wither—soul and blossom!You both were vainly given:Earth reserves no blessingFor the unblest of heaven!