Poems (Curwen)/What lies before us

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What Lies Before Us?
What lies before us? Who can say?     Not you, nor I. No shadow falls upon our way, No warning voices, whispering, say     The end is nigh. And yet there's but a step between This world of ours and the Unseen,     Whose borders lie So near us, that a sigh, a breath, Bridges the gulf that we call death.
We journey on with smile and jest,     While it may be Some dear one, one we loved the best, Has gone forth on their last lone quest     Across the sea—The vast dark sea, which flows so near, Yet ne'er is heard by mortal ear.     Then, vainly we, Weeping, call to them o'er this tide; No voice comes from the "other side."
What lies before us? Who can tell?     Not mortal man. To-day we say that "all is well,"To-morrow may have rung the knell     Of some fond plan, Blighted our hopes, or cherished schemes. Ah, me! how many golden dreams     Fate loves to ban: But hope, like spring, returns again, And time heals wounds and deadens pain.
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Wisely, our Father does decree—    And God is wise—That we, His children, shall not see; And so He veils futurity     From mortal eyes, Knowing, if we should see the road, Many would sink beneath their load     Never to rise. But though He blinds us day by day, God gives new strength, and leads the way.

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