 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
Heaven.—Christian Examiner.
The earth, all light and loveliness, in summer's golden hours,
Smiles, in her bridal vesture clad, and crowned with festal flowers,
So radiantly beautiful, so like to heaven above,
We scarce can deem more fair that world of perfect bliss and love.
Smiles, in her bridal vesture clad, and crowned with festal flowers,
So radiantly beautiful, so like to heaven above,
We scarce can deem more fair that world of perfect bliss and love.
Is this a shadow, faint and dim, of that which is to come?
What shall the unveiled glories be of our celestial home,
Where waves the glorious tree of life, where streams of bliss gush free,
And all is glowing in the light of immortality!
What shall the unveiled glories be of our celestial home,
Where waves the glorious tree of life, where streams of bliss gush free,
And all is glowing in the light of immortality!
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To see again the home of youth, when weary years have passed,
Serenely bright, as when we turned and looked upon it last;
To hear the voice of love, to meet the rapturous embrace,
To gaze, through tears of gladness, on each dear familiar face—
Serenely bright, as when we turned and looked upon it last;
To hear the voice of love, to meet the rapturous embrace,
To gaze, through tears of gladness, on each dear familiar face—
Oh! this indeed is joy, though here we meet again to part
But what transporting bliss awaits the pure and faithful heart,
Where it shall find the loved and lost, those who have gone before,
Where every tear is wiped away, where partings come no more!
But what transporting bliss awaits the pure and faithful heart,
Where it shall find the loved and lost, those who have gone before,
Where every tear is wiped away, where partings come no more!
When, on Devotion's seraph wings, the spirit soars above,
And feels thy presence, Father, Friend, God of eternal love,—
Joys of the earth, ye fade away before that living ray,
Which gives to the rapt soul a glimpse of pure and perfect day—
And feels thy presence, Father, Friend, God of eternal love,—
Joys of the earth, ye fade away before that living ray,
Which gives to the rapt soul a glimpse of pure and perfect day—
A gleam of heaven's own light—though now its brightness scarce appears
Through the dim shadows, which are spread around this vale of tears;
But thine unclouded smile, O God, fills that all glorious place,
Where we shall know as we are known, and see thee face to face!
Through the dim shadows, which are spread around this vale of tears;
But thine unclouded smile, O God, fills that all glorious place,
Where we shall know as we are known, and see thee face to face!
| The American common-place book of poetry | |