 | Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne |  |
XI.
THE POLE OF DEATH.
IN MEMORY OF SIDNEY LANIER.
How solemnly on mournful eyes
The mystic warning rose,
While o'er the Singer's forehead lies
A twilight of repose.
The mystic warning rose,
While o'er the Singer's forehead lies
A twilight of repose.
The twilight deepens into night,—
That night of frozen breath,
The rigor of whose Arctic blight,
We recognize as—death!
That night of frozen breath,
The rigor of whose Arctic blight,
We recognize as—death!
But since beyond the polar ice
May shine bright baths of balm;
Past its grim barriers' last device,
A crystal-hearted calm,—
May shine bright baths of balm;
Past its grim barriers' last device,
A crystal-hearted calm,—
Thus, ice-bound Death that guards so well
His far-off, secret goal,
May clasp a peace ineffable,
For some who reach his pole!
His far-off, secret goal,
May clasp a peace ineffable,
For some who reach his pole!
My poet—is it thus with thee,
Beyond this twilight gray,—
This frozen blight, this sombre sea,—
Ah! hast thou found the Day?
Beyond this twilight gray,—
This frozen blight, this sombre sea,—
Ah! hast thou found the Day?
| Poems of Paul Hamilton Hayne | |