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A Night on the Banks of Doon, and Other Poems
A Night on the Banks of Doon and Other Poems Author:John Mitchell Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: EPISTLE To D. M., Paisley. This life's a faught, ilk Proser says, And Poet's picture in their lays, The gloomy texture o5 the days, That men are born t... more »o ; And spread o'er glorious earth a haze, They scarce can see through. E'en let them, D-v-e, we can tell, That life has joys which can dispel, The mirkest clouds e'er hung o'er hell, Raised by despair; And proudly ring the funeral knell, O' gruesome care. A ' What thougli misfortune's withering blast, Our life's horizon overcast, Stern resolution to the mast We'll firmly nail And boldly struggle to the last, Against the gale. With perseverance for our guide, Undauntedly we'll stem the tide, Till in some port secure we ride, Our labours o'er ; And to the winds our cares confide, Or ocean's roar. Will pining break misfortunes dart ? Will tears e'er wash away the smart That rankles in the throbbing heart, And ease the pain? No! then assay a nobler art, And ne'er complain. We'll sing the joys we twa hae seen, And from the past fresh matter glean, To crush in embryo the spleen, If it should rise ; And o'er its ruins smile serene, With gladdening eyes. Life's lusty morn, with cloudless sky, Raised my young fancy topmast high, But sage experience gave the lie, To youth's gay dreams ; And chequered life wi' many a dye O" cheerless beams. But must I lose the present hour, Because thick clouds around me lour ? Or sink beneath the pelting shower, O' fortunes spite! No, faith! I'll breast her utmost power, Wi' a" my might. I'll call on hope to gild the days, Which fancy to my mind displays, As basking in the noontide blaze O' future years; And bid her chaunt her sweetest lays, To glad mine ears. What tho' cold poverty may try To swamp the bark i...« less