 | Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love |  |
140
THE LILY OF HEAVEN.
I.
Now in her snow-white shroud she lies—(Her lily lids half veil her eyes)—
As if she looked with wild surprise
Up at her soul in Paradise.
II.
Her hands lie folded on her breast—Crossed like the Cross that gave her rest;
She looks as if some heavenly guest
Had told her that her soul was blest.
III.
She lies as if she seemed to hearSphere-music breaking on her ear—
Breaking in accents silver-clear—
In concert with her soul up there.
IV.
Her body was the Temple brightIn which her soul dwelt full of light,
Triumphing over Death's dark night—
High Heaven laid open to the sight.
141
V.
Burning with pure seraphic love,Veiled in the meekness of the dove—
Her soul, now all things past to prove,
Looks down on me from Heaven above.
VI.
For her Religion grew more bright,The darker grew the world's dark night—
Filling her soul with such pure light,
High heaven seemed opened to her sight.
VII.
The calmness of divinest caseRests on her brow—upon her face—
Expressive of her soul's release
From this dark world to one of peace.
VIII.
Her pale, cold, silent lips, comprest,Speak out to me, most manifest,
A silent language, of the rest
That she now feels among the blest.
IX.
I wept warm tears upon her face,As she lay there in Death's embrace;
Whereon no passion could we trace—
But calmness—meekness—heavenly grace.
X.
With saintly, pale-face thus she wentOut of this world's great discontent,
Up through the starry firmament,
Into the Place of Pure Content.
| Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love | |