by Bernard Barton (1780 - 1840)
Which Things are a Shadow
Language: English
I saw a stream whose waves were bright With morning's dazzling sheen; But gathering clouds, ere fall of night, Had darken'd o'er the scene: "How like that tide," My spirit sighed, "This life to me hath been." The clouds dispersed; the glowing west Was bright with closing day; And o'er the river's peaceful breast Shone forth the sunset ray: -- My spirit caught The soothing thought, "This life might pass away." I saw a tree with ripening fruit And shady foliage crown'd; But, ah! the axe was at its root, And fell'd it to the ground: Well might that tree Recall to me The doom my hopes had found. The fire consum'd it; but I saw Its smoke ascend on high -- A shadowy type, beheld with awe, Of that which will not die, But from the grave Will rise and have A refuge in the sky.
Confirmed with The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century, ed. by Alfred H. Miles, London: George Routledge & Sons; New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1907.
Authorship:
- by Bernard Barton (1780 - 1840), "Which Things are a Shadow" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-02-22
Line count: 28
Word count: 145