Poems (Cary)/Tokens

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TOKENS.
Truth, with her calm and steady eyes, Looked sternly in my face one morning,And of the night, that closes on Life's worn out day, I saw such warningAs sunken cheeks and gray hairs give, And faint smiles fading into sorrow;And hiding from the light my face, I cried, "Oh night, that knows no morrow!Gather your solemn clouds away; And leave me and my youth together,And make its joys grow, thick and bright As apples in the summer weather."And night was silent, and the sea Was silent, and the eyes of heavenShut under lid-like clouds, and thus An answer to my prayer was given.
I in a vision went, and saw From the low grave, asunder breaking,A face of beauty smiling like A baby's in the cradle waking;And heard a voice that said to me "Stay, if thou wilt, among the living; ​But earth thy ancient mother is, And rest is only of her giving.Plain is the creed of nature's book, Daily you read the truthful storyThat when the day is dim with clouds The twilight has the most of glory.The tassel of the corn must fade— The ear will grow not in its shadow,And for the winter snow there blooms So much the brighter harvest meadow.So, send no more instead of praise Through God's good purposes, a sighing,The gray hairs and the fading cheeks Are tokens of the glorifying."
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