Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Act in the Present

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Act in the Present.
Heart gazing mournfully
 Back through past years,
Bringing sad memories,
 Laden with tears—
Life's hours wasted,
 Talents abused,
Bright opportunities
 Blindly refused—
Close up the record
 Fraught with such pain;
Years that have vanished
 Return not again.
Grasp thou the Present,
 Be earnest and bold—
Fleeting its moments,
 More precious than gold.
 ​Watch and fight bravely
 Against sloth and sin;
Pray for the spirit,
 The victory to win.
Cometh the Future
 Veilèd and slow?
Go forth to meet her,
 For weal or for woe.
Bringeth she gladness?
 Praise thou the Lord.
Bringeth she sadness?
 Bow to His word.
O'er Past and o'er Future
 Dim shadows recline,
Heart, be thou manful,
 The Present is thine!

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