THE VERDANT ivy clings around br Yon moss be-mantled wall, br As if it sought to hide the stones, br That crumbling soon must fall: br That relic of a bygone age br Now tottering to decay, br Has but one friend—the ivy—left. br The rest have passed away. br br The fairy flowers that once did bloom br And smile beneath its shade; br They lingered till the autumn came, br And autumn saw them fade: br The emerald leaves that blushed between— br The winds away have blown; br But yet to cheer the mournful scene, br The ivy liveth on. br br Thus heavenly hope will still survive, br When earthly joys have fled; br And all the flow’ry dreams of youth br Lie withering and dead. br When Winter comes—it twines itself br Around the human heart; br And like the ivy on the wall br Will ne’er from thence depart.