 | Life and Writings of the Grimke Family |  |
56
AT THE HOME OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS
61
Only the casket left! The jewel gone
Whose noble presence filled these lovely halls,
And made this spot a shrine, where pilgrims came—
Stranger and friend—to bend in reverence
Before the great pure soul that knew no guile:
To listen to the wise and gracious words
That fell from lips whose rare, exquisite smile
Gave tender beauty to the grand, grave face.
Whose noble presence filled these lovely halls,
And made this spot a shrine, where pilgrims came—
Stranger and friend—to bend in reverence
Before the great pure soul that knew no guile:
To listen to the wise and gracious words
That fell from lips whose rare, exquisite smile
Gave tender beauty to the grand, grave face.
Blue are the summer skies, gentle the airs
That soothe with touches soft the weary brow;
And perfect days glide into perfect nights,
Moonlit and calm; but still our aching hearts
Are sad and faint with fear:—for thou art gone.
O friend beloved! with longing, tear-filled eyes
We look up, up to the unclouded blue,
And seek in vain some answering sign from thee.
Look down upon us, guide and cheer us still
From the serene height where thou dwellest now;
Dark is the way without the beacon light
Which long and steadfastly thy hand upheld;
O nerve with courage new the stricken hearts
Whose dearest hopes seem lost in losing thee!
That soothe with touches soft the weary brow;
And perfect days glide into perfect nights,
Moonlit and calm; but still our aching hearts
Are sad and faint with fear:—for thou art gone.
O friend beloved! with longing, tear-filled eyes
We look up, up to the unclouded blue,
And seek in vain some answering sign from thee.
Look down upon us, guide and cheer us still
From the serene height where thou dwellest now;
Dark is the way without the beacon light
Which long and steadfastly thy hand upheld;
O nerve with courage new the stricken hearts
Whose dearest hopes seem lost in losing thee!
Charlotte F. Grimke
| Life and Writings of the Grimke Family | |