Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Sonnets and Other Poems, Chiefly Religious (1890). II. First SorrowJoseph John Murphy (18271894)
T
We see them through a golden haze
Of memory; but, when near beholden,
Were they indeed such golden days?
Although their passing pleased us well;
They were but lovely vernal flowers,
Fading and withering ere they fell.
With trembling faith, our hearts to melt;
When childhood’s careless joys were ended,
And life’s reality was felt;
That was indeed the golden hour!
Then seed of heavenly life was sown
In weakness, to be raised in power.
May spring from deepest earthly loss.
The holiest joy has roots in pain—
Eternal glory in the Cross.