Shackled Unto Adam Ever
Shackled unto Adam ever,
Na’er to leave and na’er to sever,
Bondage to the serpent clever,
Keeping me in hell contain’d.
Tis a pall and bondage weary,
Growing wan and maudlin teary,
Heart bereft and vision bleary,
Naught of perfect heaven gained!
Under skies in whiteness flowing,
Swept away to night’s unknowing,
All the cold of death bestowing,
Soul chagrined and ever pained.
There the village, cased in morning—
Naught but sorrow’s spectre dawning,
With the ghouls of Sheol warning;
Flee the land in malice stained!
Dread the feeling, senses reeling,
Glumness in the heart congealing,
Into deeper doldrums stealing,
All the bliss of heaven waned…
Angels through the aethers joying,
Such prodigious love employing,
Every tint of light enjoying,
In the thrall of Jesus trained.
Gone away and fled to dreaming,
With the devil’s grimace gleaming,
Peaceful still, but vacant seeming,
Into outer darkness reigned.
Demons there tremendous ugly,
Laughing at the bretheren smugly,
Crowding in to Satan snugly,
All the mirth of heaven drained.
Flowers so forsaken blooming,
Curses o’er the landscape looming,
Destitution all consuming,
All of heaven’s host disdained.
Loud the chains abysmal shaking!
Loneliness to mark my waking!
All my former might forsaking!
Loss eternal — that remained.
