| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1560. God Bless You, Dear, Today! |
| | | By John Bennett |
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| IF there be graveyards in the heart | |
| From which no roses spring, | |
| A place of wrecks and old gray tombs | |
| From which no birds take wing, | |
| Where linger buried hopes and dreams | 5 |
| Like ghosts among the graves, | |
| Why, buried hopes are dismal things, | |
| And lonely ghosts are knaves! | |
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| If there come dreary winter days, | |
| When summer roses fall | 10 |
| And lie, forgot, in withered drifts | |
| Along the garden wall; | |
| If all the wreaths a lover weaves | |
| Turn thorns upon the brow,— | |
| Then out upon the silly fool | 15 |
| Who makes not merry now! | |
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| For is we cannot keep the past, | |
| Why care for what ’s to come? | |
| The instant’s prick is all that stings, | |
| And then the place is numb. | 20 |
| If life’s a lie and Love’s a cheat, | |
| As I have heard men say, | |
| Then here ’s a health to fond deceit— | |
| God bless you, dear, to-day! | |
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