Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional, Vol. 2 ‎#26

26. To a Friend, on the Death of a Child

I. Life is a span, a fleeting hour,
How soon the vapour flies!
Man is a tender transient flow'r,
That ev'n in blooming dies!

II. Death spreads like winter's frozen arms,
And beauty smiles no more:
Ah! where are now those rising charms
Which pleas'd our eyes before?

III. The once lov'd form now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
And nature weeps her comforts fled,
And wither'd all her joys.

IV. But wait the interposing gloom,
And lo, stern winter flies!
And drest in beauty's fairest bloom,
The flow'ry tribes arise.

V. Hope looks beyond the bounds of time;
When what we now deplore,
Shall rise in full immortal prime,
And bloom to fade no more.

VI. Then cease fond nature, cease thy tears,
Religion points on high:
There everlasting spring appears,
And joys that cannot die.

Text Information

• First Line: Life is a span, a fleeting hour
• Title: To a Friend, on the Death of a Child
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1760

Tune Information

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