Shadowy, dreamy phantoms ever rising <br />Up before wild Fancy's eyes, <br />With their untold and beauteous splendor, <br />Make us present things despise. <br /> <br />And procrastination whispers softly, <br />Wait a little longer yet; <br />Rashness will defeat your purpose, mortal, <br />And be cause of deep regret. <br /> <br />Wait with patience just a moment longer, <br />Then with safety clutch them fast- <br />Thus the spirit of delay beguiles us, <br />Till the lucky time is past. <br /> <br />Moments freighted deep with joy ecstatic <br />All unheeded pass away; <br />While we musing scan the misty future, <br />Hoping they will ever stay. <br /> <br />Bye and bye! may gaily point us forward, <br />Unto scenes with joy o'ercast- <br />Only mirage of Life's barren desert, <br />They are found to be at last. <br /> <br />Bye and bye! with all its artful scheming, <br />Though it may seem most sublime, <br />Wisdom horror-stricken spurneth from her, <br />Knowing only present time. <br /> <br />Reason tells us now's the time for action, <br />And this truth will ever last, <br />Written as it is throughout all nature, <br />On the pages of the Past.<br /><br />George Johnston<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bye-and-bye-2/
