Poems (Eckley)/"In the midst of life we are in death"

by Sophia May Eckley

"In the midst of life we are in death; of whom then may we seek succour but of Thee, O Lord?"

N midst of Life we are in Death,
 Of whom then may we seek
For succour, but of Thee, O Lord,
 To whom else can we speak?

When Life seems fair as summer's morn,
 When health and joy are ours,
O let us then remember, Lord,
 Will come Life's darker hours.

For in the warmth of day we see
 The flowers are fresh and fair,
But mark how frail, and O how sure
 Will fall the cold death there.

Nor summer's sun, nor evening dew,
 Nor human band can stay
The frosty wind of death and blight,
 That steals their life away.

For in the midst of life, how sure
 Will fall death's icy hand
Upon some flower of love we prize—
 Unclasp some loving hand,

We thought we held so fast in ours,
 That nothing could divide,
Until death's servant came and took
 An angel from our side.

There is no death since Jesu died,
 That word is known no more,
'Tis only life the angels sing,
 O life for evermore!