Broken

I.                             Broken!         It's only a ring - a plain, old ring,             Worn down to a thread almost -         Fling it away - the useless thing!             What value now can it boast? -                     Fling it away!                 Yet stay! - oh stay                     Ere you cast it away!             There's a tale of the vanished years                 That ever will cling,                     To that broken ring,             That hallows and endears -                             Oh stay!     In vain! - in vain! - What matters it now         That tenderest memories cling     To that thread of gold so wasted and old -         Who cares for a broken ring? -                     Fling it away!     II.                             Broken!         It's only a vase - an old, stone vase -             Ancient and out of style -         That has stood for years in the chimney place,             Provoking many a smile -                     Throw it away!                 Yet stay! - that vase                     Held honored place             In the sight of prince and peer                 And the flowers it held                     Were gathered of old             By the lovely and the dear! -                             Oh stay!     In vain! - In vain! - What matters it now     How honored was once its place!     It is broken, and old, and the hearts are cold     That cherished the old stone vase -                     Throw it away!     III.                             Broken!         It's only a promise - as light as air -             Though earnestly, solemnly given,         Made to be broken - yet who should care? -             Do you think it was heard in Heaven? -                     Break it to day!                 Yet stay! - that breath                     Is a blast of death             To an innocent human heart!                 Unsay the word,                     For God has heard!             And He taketh the wronged one's part - -                     Break it not to-day!     In vain! - in vain! - What matters it now?     It was only a breath - no more!     A faithless promise - a traitor's vow -     Such things have happened before -                     It's broken to-day!     IV.                             Broken!         It's only a heart - a human heart -             That has throbbed for years and years,         With the burning pain and the cruel smart             Whose agony knows no tears -                     Cast it away'                 Yet stay! - oh stay!                     A father, grey             And sorrowful, prayed for her long                 And a mother's love                     Bore to God above             The tale of her poor childs wrong! -                     Cast it not away!     In vain! - 'Tis a story old and worn -     This story of falsehood's art -     Of the harsh world's withering blight and scorn, -     Who cares for the broken heart                     That's been cast away?