Poems (Louisa Blake)/Consolation under Affliction
CONSOLATION UNDER AFFLICTION.
The dream is o'er: weak, vain, deluded heart,
Thy fondest hopes were placed on things below,
The ties that bound thee now are rent apart,
And disappointment's pang thou'rt doom'd to know.
On all the future falls a shade of wo;
The past has been a bright delightful scene,
Deep in the dust my joys are buried low,
And left the memory of what once has been,
That future sufferings may be yet more keen.
Thy fondest hopes were placed on things below,
The ties that bound thee now are rent apart,
And disappointment's pang thou'rt doom'd to know.
On all the future falls a shade of wo;
The past has been a bright delightful scene,
Deep in the dust my joys are buried low,
And left the memory of what once has been,
That future sufferings may be yet more keen.
Yes, though thou knew'st earth's promises were nought,
Its firmest prop but a poor feeble reed,
Yet didst thou trust it as a firm support,
And find thy hope, thy trust, was vain indeed;
And must my poor heart then forever bleed?
Is there no one to whom I can apply?
Yes, thou, great God! will hear me in my need—
Wilt wipe the tear of anguish from my eye,—
And teach me to suppress each murmuring sigh.
Its firmest prop but a poor feeble reed,
Yet didst thou trust it as a firm support,
And find thy hope, thy trust, was vain indeed;
And must my poor heart then forever bleed?
Is there no one to whom I can apply?
Yes, thou, great God! will hear me in my need—
Wilt wipe the tear of anguish from my eye,—
And teach me to suppress each murmuring sigh.
Guided by Thee, my confidence in Heaven,—
I'll draw my thoughts from earth, and fix them there,
For Thou hast said that they shall be forgiven,
Who turn to Thee, and trust Thy guardian care;
Oh! I will trust thy promise, and beware;
No earthly object shall my heart retain;
For now I know how pure the pleasures are
That flow from heavenly love, and ne'er again
Shall earthly disappointment give me pain.
I'll draw my thoughts from earth, and fix them there,
For Thou hast said that they shall be forgiven,
Who turn to Thee, and trust Thy guardian care;
Oh! I will trust thy promise, and beware;
No earthly object shall my heart retain;
For now I know how pure the pleasures are
That flow from heavenly love, and ne'er again
Shall earthly disappointment give me pain.