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Category: Ballads and Other Poems
Broken I.
Broken!
It's only a ring--a plain, old ring,
Worn down to a thread almost--
Fling it away--the useless thing!
What value now can it boast?--
Fling it away!
Yet stay!--oh stay
Ere you cast it away!
There's a tale of the vanished years
That ever will cling,
To that broken ring,
That hallows and endears--
Oh stay!
In vain!--in vain!--What matters it now
That tenderest memories cling
To that thread of gold so wasted and old--
Who cares for a broken ring?--
Fling it away!
II.
Broken!
It's only a vase--an old, stone vase--
Ancient and out of style--
That has stood for years in the chimney place,
Provoking many a smile--
Throw it away!
Yet stay!--that vase
Held honored place
In the sight of prince and peer
And the flowers it held
Were gathered of old
By the lovely and the dear!--
Oh stay!
In vain!--In vain!--What matters it now
How honored was once its place!
It is broken, and old, and the hearts are cold
That cherished the old stone vase--
Throw it away!
III.
Broken!
It's only a promise--as light as air--
Though earnestly, solemnly given,
Made to be broken--yet who should care?--
Do you think it was heard in Heaven?--
Break it to day!
Yet stay!--that breath
Is a blast of death
To an innocent human heart!
Unsay the word,
For God has heard!
And He taketh the wronged one's part---
Break it not to-day!
In vain!--in vain!--What matters it now?
It was only a breath--no more!
A faithless promise--a traitor's vow--
Such things have happened before--
It's broken to-day!
IV.
Broken!
It's only a heart--a human heart--
That has throbbed for years and years,
With the burning pain and the cruel smart
Whose agony knows no tears--
Cast it away'
Yet stay!--oh stay!
A father, grey
And sorrowful, prayed for her long
And a mother's love
Bore to God above
The tale of her poor childs wrong!--
Cast it not away!
In vain!--'Tis a story old and worn--
This story of falsehood's art--
Of the harsh world's withering blight and scorn,--
Who cares for the broken heart
That's been cast away? - Mrs. J. C. Yule |
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