Gate!-that never wholly closes,
Opening yet so oft in vain!
Garden! full of thorny roses!
Roses fall-and thorns remain.
Wayward lamp! with flickering lustre
Shining far or shining near;
Seldom words of truth revealing-
Ever shewing words of cheer.
Promise-breaker! yet unfailing!
Faithless flatterer! comrade true!
Only friend, when traitor proven,
Whom we always trust anew.
Courtier strange! whom Triumph frighteth!
Flying far from Pleasure’s eye!
Who by sorrow’s side alighteth
When all else are passing by.
Syren-singer! ever chanting
Ditties new to burdens old
Precious stone! the sages sought for,
Turning everything to gold!
True Philosopher! imparting
Comfort rich to spirits pained:
Chider of proud triumph’s madness,
Pointing to the unattained!
Timid Warrior! Doubt, arising,
Scares thee with the slightest breath:
Matchless chief! who, Fear despising,
Tramples on the dart of Death!
O’er the grave, past Time’s pursuing,
For thy flashing glory streams!
Too unswerving-too resplendent
For a child of idle dreams!
Still, Life’s fitful vigil keeping,
Feed the flame, and trim the light!
Hope’s the lamp I’ll take for sleeping
When I wish the world good-night!
(Ernest Jones)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, World Poems, Light Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Dreams Poems, Friendship Poems, Hope Poems, Fear Poems, Gold Poems, Past Poems, Truth PoemsBased on Keywords: flatterer, shewing, tramples, despising, imparting, unattained, fall-and, alighteth, frighteth