DEPARTED MOMENTS.

The hand of want blanch the cheek,
Protected study pale it,
Disease forbid the tongue to speak,
The heart’s best functions fail it;
But gentle care will ease the pain,
Disease and thee discover,
The bloom of health come back again –
Departed moments, never.

Misfortune’s blast may on thee fall,
And strip thee of thy treasure;
Perchance thou mayest waste thy all
In scenes of wanton pleasure;
Yet Opulence may be obtain’d
By hearty, bold endeavour,
And squander’d riches be regain’d –
Departed moments, never.

Perchance thou hast in days gone by
With friendship’s self been sporting,
And utter’d some rude mockery,
A harsh retort extorting;
But penitence comes not in vain,
Ye must not hate for ever,
Departed friends may come again –
Departed moments, never.

Oh! Why then waste the precious hours
Or foolish, idly spend them.
If they contained nought but flowers,
There were no need to mend them;
Such good from ill to sever,
Bethink ye, as the moments and,
They’re gone, and gone for ever.