| |
| I HID my face, I spake no word, | |
| I fell upon the bed and wept; | |
| And there, while nothing moved or stirred, | |
| Shaken by grief I slept. | |
| |
| I slept at first a restless sleep, | 5 |
| With throbbing heart and aching head; | |
| For even slumber’s self did keep | |
| Some memories of the dead. | |
| |
| I dreamt. The sorrow passed away, | |
| I wept no more, no longer sighed, | 10 |
| Though in the chamber where she lay, | |
| And where that morn she died. | |
| |
| Methought I saw her after death, | |
| And knowing well that she was dead; | |
| And yet no terror choked my breath, | 15 |
| Or bowed my wondering head. | |
| |
| I saw her now a spirit bright, | |
| Freed from the weak and mortal frame, | |
| And clad in raiment all of light, | |
| Which flashed like lambent flame. | 20 |
| |
| The form that lay there stilled in death, | |
| That bent before his cruel power, | |
| Was but the fair and outward sheath | |
| That held the fragrant flower. | |
| |
| She met my gaze with such a look, | 25 |
| That to my very soul did thrill; | |
| And all my quivering pulses shook | |
| And all my heart stood still. | |
| |
| A yearning love was in my eye, | |
| I felt that she was leaving me; | 30 |
| I cried, “Oh, let me also die, | |
| That I may go with thee!” | |
| |
| While thus I spake, a voice I heard, | |
| Come ringing down the heavens afar; | |
| And sweeter sounded every word, | 35 |
| Than song of Morning Star. | |
| |
| She turned to hear the voice that spoke, | |
| And glowing rapture filled her eye; | |
| And as upon her ear it broke, | |
| Her glance was raised on high. | 40 |
| |
| She passed at once upon the way | |
| That leads through depths of dazzling light, | |
| To worlds where everlasting day, | |
| Place never gives to night. | |
| |
| I saw her gliding up on high, | 45 |
| Where burning suns in glory move; | |
| I saw her mounting thro’ the sky | |
| Drawn by the force of love. | |
| |
| Her path lay thro’ the star-strewn skies, | |
| By argent moon, keen, bright, and clear; | 50 |
| Orb after orb flashed on her eyes, | |
| Globed each in silver sphere. | |
| |
| Thus held she on her upward way, | |
| Where gleam the golden gates afar; | |
| At length beneath her feet there lay, | 55 |
| Both sun, and moon, and star. | |
| |
| And still she kept her upward flight, | |
| Until she reached the happy place, | |
| Where God dwells in the perfect light, | |
| And shows His awful face. | 60 |
| |
| Thro’ Heaven’s door there poured a flood | |
| Of melody and thrilling song; | |
| And, bathed in glory, there she stood, | |
| Close to the shining throng. | |
| |
| And One stepped forth to meet her there, | 65 |
| A crown upon His kingly brow, | |
| With dazzling eyes and radiant hair, | |
| And face with love aglow. | |
| |
| He took her to the Fountain’s brink, | |
| Whence flow the living rills of light; | 70 |
| And, stooping down, I saw her drink | |
| The waters pure and bright. | |
| |
| I heard the six-winged Seraphim, | |
| As they beheld her forward come, | |
| Pause in their loud adoring hymn, | 75 |
| To bid her welcome home. | |
| |
| Christ led her then beneath the shade | |
| Of the green mystic Tree of Life, | |
| Whose fragrant leaves fall not, nor fade, | |
| Whose boughs with fruit are rife. | 80 |
| |
| She plucked with joy the blushing flowers, | |
| That grew in happy gardens there, | |
| And never wither as do ours, | |
| But bloom for ever fair. | |
| |
| And there I saw the streets of gold, | 85 |
| And sea of glass that burned with fire, | |
| And starry gates their doors unrolled, | |
| As He led her ever higher. | |
| |
| I heard the holy angels cry, | |
| One to another, as they sang, | 90 |
| In strange delicious melody, | |
| That thro’ the heavens rang. | |
| |
| I heard her voice amongst the choir, | |
| And knew it well from all the rest; | |
| And as she struck her golden lyre, | 95 |
| Methought it sounded best. | |
| |
| And still she moved ’midst rainbow dyes, | |
| Along the crystal floor of heav’n, | |
| Full in the Day of Paradise, | |
| Which never wanes to ev’n. | 100 |
| |
| And so Christ led her ever on, | |
| Thro’ bending ranks of angels bright, | |
| Until she stood before the throne, | |
| There lost within God’s light. | |
| |
| So passed she from my straining eyes; | 105 |
| And then I woke with sudden start, | |
| Full of a sweet, tho’ sad surprise, | |
| And throbbings of the heart. | |
| |
| Alas! I woke to weary day, | |
| To see her lying on the bed, | 110 |
| Where white, and calm, and still she lay, | |
| One of the blessed dead. | |
| |
| But from my aching heart had gone | |
| The bitter anguish and the pain; | |
| I said, “O God, Thy will be done, | 115 |
| I ask her not again. | |
| |
| “I would not, if I could, dear Lord, | |
| Recall her to this world of woe; | |
| Nor might I, could I speak the word, | |
| Draw her from Thee below. | 120 |
| |
| “No! Let her live before Thy face, | |
| And follow Thee thro’ pastures fair; | |
| Patient I’ll tarry here a space, | |
| Then seek her with Thee there.” | |
| |
