Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.
Harriet Martineau 180276On, on, Forever
MartineaHB
Nought resteth or is still;
But all things hold their march
As if by one great will:
Moves one, move all: hark to the foot-fall!
On, on, forever!
Will ripens into deed;
As cave-drops swell the streams,
Day-thoughts feed nightly dreams;
And sorrow tracketh wrong,
As echo follows song:
On, on, forever!
The Hours reveal their train;
They whisper and go by:
I never watch in vain.
Moves one, move all: hark to the foot-fall!
On, on, forever!
And there a promise shed;
They pass the moist new grave,
And bid rank verdure wave;
They bear through every clime
The harvests of all time.
On, on, forever!