What Then?

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 23
 
After the joys of earth,
After its songs of mirth,
After its hours of light,
After its dreams so bright—
What then?

Only an empty name,
Only a weary frame,
Only a conscious smart,
Only an aching heart.

After this empty name,
After this weary frame,
After this conscious smart,
After this aching heart—
What then?

Only a sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
Only a silent bed
With the forgotten dead.

After this sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
After this silent bed
With the forgotten dead—
What then?

Oh, then—the judgment throne!
Oh, then—the last hope—gone!
THEN, all the woes that dwell
In an eternal HELL!