Redeeming the Time

A life of hope deferred too often is A life of wasted opportunities; life of perished hope too often is life of all-lost opportunities: Yet hope is but the flower and not the root, And hope is still the flower and not the fruit;- Arise and sow and weed: a day shall come When also thou shalt keep thy harvest home.

“Now they desire a better Country.”

Love said nay, while Hope kept saying All his sweetest say, Hope so keen to start a-maying— Love said nay.

Love was bent to watch and pray; Long the watching, long the praying; Hope grew drowsy, pale and grey.

Hope in dreams set off a-straying, All his dream-world flushed by May; While unslumbering, praying, weighing, Love said nay.