On A Tear

Emblem of our sad condition,
Proof of woe and mis'ry drear;
Loudest voice of fair contrition,
Sorrow's offspring--trickling tear.


Often thou thy station keeping,
Join'd with sobs and heaving sighs,
Washest cheeks of beauty weeping,
Wan the face and dim the eyes!


Disappointment, grief, and pleasure,
Call thee forth and bid thee flow,
Lovely--far exceeding measure
When thou fall'st for others' woe;


Then the beauteous cheeks adorning,
Thou diffusest sweetest gloom,
Lovelier far than dews in morning,
Washing flow'rs of fairest bloom.


Often when Life's billows rolling
'Mid the darkness beat and roar,
No kind hand the storm controlling,
Harbor none, nor star, nor shore:


Thou canst come our griefs relieving,
Ease the bosom full of care,
Make us cease to grieve--by grieving
Spend the force of black despair.


Tend'rest pledge of soft affection
When for those we love we weep,
When faint smiles amid dejection,
Speak we know--they only sleep.--


Yes; the blush of life declining,
Paints a rainbow o'er the tomb,
That thro' shades of darkness shining
Robs the grave of all its gloom.


Whence that blush the west adorning,
And the last expiring ray,
Speak a far more beauteous morning,
And a more delightful day;


Then, the constant virtuous lover,
Then the friend, the parent dear,
Those they lost shall glad recover
Ne'er to shed the parting tear.


She whom many a loss bereaving,
Forc'd her children to deplore;
Shall embrace them--ceas'd from grieving
Meet them there--to part no more.


For eternity beginning,
Endless joy, immortal day,
Weeping, then, shall cease with sinning,
Ev'ry tear be wip'd away.