Maysville weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1864-1866, 1864-05-06
waiting by the Gate.


BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. .r
Beside massive gateway builtup in years gon'
by,
Upon whose top the clouds in eternal shadow lie
While streams the evening sunshine on dhie
wood and lea,
stand and calmly wait until the hinges turn fOi
me.
The tree-tors family rastls beneath the breeze.
fight, ..E-e,
A soft and soothing sound, yetit whispers ofth.
night;
T:hear the woOdthrush piping one mellow descant
more,
And scent the .wers that blow when tie heat Of
day is o'eI.
Behold the portals open, and Ger the threshold
now,
There steps weary one with pale and furrowed
brow; ... -.s
His eoant of years is full, his allotted task is
wrought;
he passes to his rest from place that needs him
In sadness, then, ponder how quickly fleets the
hour
or human strength and action, mans courage
and his power,
1 muse while still the woodthrush sings down
the golden day,
And as I look and listen the sadness wears away.
Again the hinges turn, and youth, departing
throws >
A look of longing backward and sorrowfully
goes;
A blooming maid, unbinding the roses from her
hair,
Moves mournfully away from amidst the young
and fair.
Oh, glory of our race that SO suddenly decaysl
Oh, crimson flush of morning, that darkens as
gael
Oh, breath of Summer blossoms that on the rest
scatters moments sweetness and fees weknow
l grieved for life's briGh: promise, just shown
and then Withdrawn;
But still the sun shines round me; the evening
tird sings on;
And again am soothed, and beside the ancient
gate,
In this soft evening sunlight, 1 calmly stand and
wait.
Once moro the gates are opened; an infaut group
@ 60 out.
The sweet smile quenched forever, and stilled
the sprightly shout, 80,
Oh frail frail tree of Lifs, that upon the green
sward strows,
It's fair young buds unopened, with every wind
that blows. r
So some from every region, SO enter, side by
side, ~
The strong and faint of spirit, the meek and men
ofprids,
Steps Of earth's greatest, mightiest, between
those pillars gray, 5tF r
And prints of LITTLE feet, mark the dust along the
way.
And some apprOach the threshold whOss looks
kre blank with fear, s-
And some whoss temples brighten with joy arc
drawing near,
As ifthey saw dear faces, and caught the gracious
eye so
ofHim, the sinlezs Teacher, who came for us te
die. -
marx tho joy, the terrOrs; yet these, within my
heart,
Can neither wake the dread nor the longing to
depart; ~
Ard, in the sunshine cleaning on quiet wood
and lea, .z-y- - ,5--... (.
I stand and calmly wait till the hinges turn for
sTgI me. q
81 -Tls Apart. - as
AT sea are tossing ships; |
.ar-ya On shore are dreaming shells.
Andt5e waiting heart and the loving lips,
Blossoms and bridal bells.
4tsea are sails agleami - =
Ya, On shore arc longing eyes, sar-Es.
- And the far horizons haunting dream
OF ships that sail the skies.
i tAAa sea are nasts that rise .-sasfss-
Like spectres from the deep;
onfbore. are the ghosts of drowning cries
20 s1, That cross the waves OF sleep.
$50 AT sea are wrecks a-strand; ~
On shore are shells that moan,
Old anchors buried in barreH sand, sg
-s81 SeR-nIist and dreams alone. ..5s d
Ladies should never put pins in their
mouths. their lips should be roses without
thorns. stgzisa4