by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)
Procrastinations
Language: English
If Fortune with a smiling face Strew roses on our way, When shall we stoop to pick them up? To-day, my love, to-day. But should she frown with face of care, And talk of coming sorrow, When shall we grieve, if grieve we must? To-morrow, love, to-morrow. If those who've wrong'd us own their faults, And kindly pity pray, When shall we listen and forgive? To-day, my love, to-day. But, if stern Justice urge rebuke, And warmth from Memory borrow, When shall we chide -- if chide we dare? To-morrow, love, to-morrow. If those to whom we owe a debt Are harmed unless we pay, When shall we struggle to be just? To-day, my love, to-day. But if our debtor fail our hope And plead his ruin thorough, When shall we weigh his breach of faith? To-morrow, love, to-morrow. If Love, estranged, should once again Her genial smile display, When shall we kiss her proffered lips? To-day, my love, to-day. But, if she would indulge regret, Or dwell with bygone sorrow, When shall we weep -- if weep we must? To-morrow, love, to-morrow. For virtuous acts and harmless joys The minutes will not stay; We've always time to welcome them, To-day, my love, to-day. But care, resentment, angry words, And unavailing sorrow, Come far too soon, if they appear To-morrow, love, to-morrow.
Confirmed with Charles Mackay, Egeria, or the Spirit of Nature; and other Poems, London: David Bogue, 1850, pages 72 - 74.
Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889), "Procrastinations", appears in Egeria, or the Spirit of Nature; and other Poems [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):
- by Franz Petersilea (d. 1878), "Procrastinations" [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898) , no title, written 1866, first published 1870 ; composed by Franz Wilhelm Abt.
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2021-05-25
Line count: 40
Word count: 220