Poems (Hale)/The Contrast

by Mary Whitwell Hale

For works with similar titles, see The Contrast.

THE CONTRAST.

 

"Lovely and pleasant were they in their lives, and in their death not divided." Holy Writ.

A young and cherished bride, she went her future home to seek,
While glowed the living tints of health upon her kindling cheek.
The fount of love was in her heart, and in her eye its light;
Nor dark disease around her path had cast its withering blight.

The future to her vision seemed one fair and golden dream,
And Hope, the priestess at love's shrine, had shed her radiant beam;
Breathed from the lip of changeless truth the precious vow was given,
Which bound in one those mingling hearts, which death's cold touch has riven.

Now side by side with one most dear her quiet ashes sleep,
While angel spirits round their rest their gentle vigils keep.
"Lovely and pleasant in their lives, in death divided not,"
Each rests upon her lowly couch, silent, but not forgot.

Thou earlier called to bliss and heaven, most gentle and most blest,
Thy memory in unfading lines is on my heart impressed.
E'en now when on thy love I muse, I shed the frequent tear,
Though years have passed since last I saw thy living image here.

My heart is sometimes weary, and I fain would flee away
In sweet communion with thy soul to share heaven's "perfect day;"
Yet would I wait my appointed time until my change shall come,
And thou my angel guide may'st be, to lead my spirit home.

Rest ye! sweet sisters! earth had not one joy to equal heaven.
The seal of Christian fellowship to each young heart was given.
The kindred souls in life so dear, could not long parted be:
They soared to swell in courts above the anthem of the free.