Poems and Essays By the late William Caldwell Roscoe. (Edited with a Prefatory Memoir, by his Brother-in-law, Richard Holt Hutton) |
[Why fear that the departed grieves] |
Poems and Essays | ||
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[Why fear that the departed grieves]
“How is it? Canst thou feel for me
Some painless sympathy with pain?”
In Memoriam.
Some painless sympathy with pain?”
In Memoriam.
Why fear that the departed grieves,
Far from the mourner whom she leaves?
Who shall deny that when he stands,
With aching breast and strained hands,
His wan face raised to empty air,
And his hopes darkening to despair,—
Far from the mourner whom she leaves?
Who shall deny that when he stands,
With aching breast and strained hands,
His wan face raised to empty air,
And his hopes darkening to despair,—
E'en then the spirit whom he loved,
By close affection deeply moved,
Comes, with a swift angelic grace,
And gazes on the dear loved face,
Yearns to wipe off the raining tears,
And whisper comfort in his ears?
By close affection deeply moved,
Comes, with a swift angelic grace,
And gazes on the dear loved face,
Yearns to wipe off the raining tears,
And whisper comfort in his ears?
Or rather, from beyond the flood
Leaning her young beatitude,
Sighs only gently to behold
How grief's sharp fires transmute her gold,
And, rich in insight newly given,
Counts every faltering step to Heaven?
Leaning her young beatitude,
Sighs only gently to behold
How grief's sharp fires transmute her gold,
And, rich in insight newly given,
Counts every faltering step to Heaven?
Rests tenderly a soft distress
Upon the coming happiness;
And blest to think how short a time
Severs these frosts from golden prime,
Smiles, as a mother smiles to trace
Brief showers roll down her baby's face.
Upon the coming happiness;
59
Severs these frosts from golden prime,
Smiles, as a mother smiles to trace
Brief showers roll down her baby's face.
Poems and Essays | ||