Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NATURE, by JAMES HERVEY HYSLOP


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NATURE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The paradise of man has varied in its claims
Last Line: Still lingers far beyond the shadows of the grave.
Subject(s): Grief; Heaven; Nature; Peace; Sorrow; Sadness; Paradise


THE Paradise of man has varied in its claims
From past to future, and when legend turned the past
And its splendid vision into ashes and illusion,
We asked of God that, in his grace, we might enjoy,
In yellow meads of asphodel, exempt from toil,
The princely boon of everlasting rest and peace.

But we forget the unity of nature and her aims,
In making work and labor hard the means of growth.
The revelation of the scenes behind the veil,
And their identity with mortal life and pain,
Dissolves the dreams of golden ages after death,
Exhibiting the sterner ways of Providence.

For God still hides behind the mask of nature there
And all his gilded promises of light and joy
Still ask for unremitting toil, would we secure
The meed of progress and her happy treasures,
And pain, with all its brood of bitter tears and grief
Still lingers far beyond the shadows of the grave.




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