The Afterglow

Oh, for the fire that used to glow     In those my days of old!     I never thought a man could grow     So callous and so cold.     Ah, for the heart that used to ache     For those in sorrows ways;     I often wish my heart could break     As it did in those dead days.     Along my track of storm and stress,     And it is plain to trace,     I look back from the loneliness     And the depth of my disgrace.     Twas fate and only fate I know,     But all mistakes are plain,     Tis sadder than the afterglow,     More dreary than the rain.     But still there lies a patch of sun     That neer will come again,     Those golden days when I was one     Of Natures gentlemen.     And if there is a memory     Could break me down at last,     It sure would be the thought of this,     The sunshine in the past.     But spite of sunshine on the track,     And well the sun might shine,     My heart grows hard when I look back     From these dark days of mine.     A nobler child was never born     In all the Southern land,     The slave of selfish ignorance     That could not understand.     Oh, I had lived for many years     In a world of my ideal,     With no false laughter, no false tears,     And it seemed very real.     But I was wakened from my dreams,     And learnt with hardening eyes     A world of selfish treachery,     Of paltry shame and lies.     I left the truest friends on earth     Who did not need my aid,     And worked for those who were not worth     The sacrifice I made.     And while I blindly strove to raise     The coward and the clown,     They sneaked behind by shady ways     And tore my palace down.     But let those faithless friends of mine     Whod think of me with scorn,     Remember that for many years     A heavy load Ive borne.     And my true friends when all is done,     And my sad soul is gone,     Will think of battles I have won     When I lead rivals on.     And though from spite and worldly things     I well should be exempt,     For little men and paltry men     I scarce can feel contempt.     They followed me with flattery     In the days when I was brave,     But for those who have been true to me     Ill strike back from the grave!