Hail! ye sighing sons of sorrow,
Learn from me your certain doom;
Learn from me your fate tomorrow,
Dead – perhaps laid in the tomb!
See all nature fading, dying!
Silent all things seem to pine;
Life from vegetation flying,
Brings to mind “the mould’ring vine.”

See! in yonder forest standing,
Lofty cedars, how they nod!
Scenes of nature how surprising
Read in nature nature’s God!
Whilst the annu’l frosts are cropping
Leaves and tendrils from the trees,
So our friends are early drooping,
We are like to one of these.

Hollow winds about me roaring,
Noisy waters round me rise;
Whilst I sit, my fate deploring,
Tears fast streaming from my eyes.
What to me is autumn’s treasure,
Since I know no earthly joy?
Long I’ve lost all youthful pleasure.
Time must youth and health destroy.

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