The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | V. |
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| VI. |
| VII. |
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| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
32
“IF BUT THE DEAD WERE LIFTED QUITE”
If but the dead were lifted quite
To some glad land of heavenly air;
If they could vanish—all that once they were
At one swift stroke be riven from mortal sight;
To some glad land of heavenly air;
If they could vanish—all that once they were
At one swift stroke be riven from mortal sight;
Then...then we might revere
The hand that fashioned, and the hand that slew:
Then might we say, “The loving soul we knew
Lives on, loves on,—no trace of it is here.”
The hand that fashioned, and the hand that slew:
Then might we say, “The loving soul we knew
Lives on, loves on,—no trace of it is here.”
Alas! a trace remains.
Death doing so much, left still his task undone.
Death paused,—and left a mandate to the rains,
The frosts, the snows of years—the storms, the sun!
Death doing so much, left still his task undone.
Death paused,—and left a mandate to the rains,
The frosts, the snows of years—the storms, the sun!
May 16, 1892.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |