Every Year
By Albert Pike
Life is a count of losses,
Every year;
For the weak are heavier crosses,
Every year;
Lost Springs with sobs replying
Unto weary Autumns’ sighing,
While those we love are dying,
Every year.
It is growing darker, colder,
Every year;
As the heart and soul grow older,
Every year;
I care not now for dancing,
Or for eyes with passion glancing,
Love is less and less entrancing,
Every year.
The days have less of gladness,
Every year;
The nights more weight of sadness,
Every year;
Fair Springs no longer charm us,
The winds and weather harm us,
The threats of death alarm us,
Every year.
There come new cares and sorrows,
Every year;
Dark days and darker morrows,
Every year;
The ghosts of dead loves haunt us,
The ghosts of changed friends taunt us,
And disappointments daunt us,
Every year.
Of the loves and sorrows blended,
Every year;
Of the charms of friendship ended,
Every year;
Of the ties that still might bind me,
Until Time to Death resigns me,
My infirmities remind me,
Every year.
Ah! how sad to look before us,
Every year;
While the cloud grows darker o’er us,
Every year;
When we see the blossoms faded,
That to bloom we might have aided,
And immortal garlands braided,
Every year.
To the Past go more dead faces,
Every year;
As the loved leave vacant places,
Every year;
Everywhere the sad eyes meet us,
In the evening’s dusk they greet us,
And to come to them entreat us,
Every year.
“You are growing old,” they tell us,
“Every year;
“You are more alone,” they tell us,
“Every year;
“You can win no new affection,
“You have only recollection,
“Deeper sorrow and dejection,
“Every year.”
Too true!—Life’s shores are shifting,
Every year;
And we are seaward drifting,
Every year;
Old places, changing, fret us,
The living more forget us,
There are fewer to regret us,
Every year.
But the truer life draws nigher,
Every year;
And its Morning star climbs higher,
Every year;
Earth’s hold on us grows slighter,
And the heavy burden lighter,
And the Dawn Immortal brighter,
Every year.
Our life is less worth living,
Every year;
And briefer our thanksgiving,
Every year;
And Love, grown faint and fretful,
With lips but half regretful,
Averts its eyes regretful,
Every year.
