POETRY.

.10 •■-■.

THE LATEST FEAR.

TIME was, I said, I fear not Death, For Death is but the end— Darkness, a pang, a failing breath That heals what Love can't mend.

My God ! I cried, it is this Life,

Not Death, my soul doth fear—

The pain, the shame, the lonely strife, Despair—and no goal near.

I liv'd. The shame, the pain liv'd too, The lonely strife held on— But, how it was I never knew, Despair one day was gone.

Despair was gone, and dread no more Of Life or Death I knew—

God's light was where, an hour before, My sin its shadow threw.

Ah.! now, I fear not Death, I cried, Nor pain nor lonely days, 'Yet still, a doubt unsatisfied Within my bosom stays.

I fear the days of coming age

When sense and reason fail—

I fear lest ere Death turn the page Fear should again prevail.

But still I liv'd, and curtain'd night Closed round my failing mind, Age stole away my body's sight, But left the soul's behind.

My latest Fear had come to me— But was it Fear at all?

True, thought, and wit, and memory Were gone beyond recall; But kindness stayed, and sympathy, And sense that God is near, And all around a mystery Of Love that casts out Fear.

M.