And Other Poems.
33
“Earth to earth!” and the clay was scatter’d,
Scatter’d over thy peaceful breast;
“Dust to dust!” and it little matter’d—
Only a woman had gone to rest.
Scatter’d over thy peaceful breast;
“Dust to dust!” and it little matter’d—
Only a woman had gone to rest.
What knew they of the passions tameless?
They but planted another clod;
“Let her sleep, though she was not blameless.
Give her soul to her Father—God.
They but planted another clod;
“Let her sleep, though she was not blameless.
Give her soul to her Father—God.
“He is merciful, good and gracious;
He can raise up the weak and low;
In the halls of His mansion spacious
Scarlet sins are made white as snow.”
He can raise up the weak and low;
In the halls of His mansion spacious
Scarlet sins are made white as snow.”
Softly spoken the words, and kindly—
Freezing natures that have not known
Scorching rays can but measure blindly
Any heat that is not their own.
Freezing natures that have not known
Scorching rays can but measure blindly
Any heat that is not their own.
Night steals on, and the leaflets tremble
Up on the boughs of tall dark trees;
Night steals on, and the ghosts assemble
Out on the skirts of sighing seas.
Up on the boughs of tall dark trees;
Night steals on, and the ghosts assemble
Out on the skirts of sighing seas.
Night steals on, and the shadows hover
Round the couch of the dying day;
Night steals on, and my song is over,
All its music has died away—
Round the couch of the dying day;
Night steals on, and my song is over,
All its music has died away—
Died away on the waves that sever
Past from present, and shore from shore;
Melting into the great “for ever”—
Gone to her who has gone before.
Past from present, and shore from shore;
Melting into the great “for ever”—
Gone to her who has gone before.
