 | The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics |  |
108
A FANTASY.
'Midst the flowers at eve she lay,
Cradled soft in slumber;—
Eyes fast closed, the lashes meek
Shadowing o'er the sunny cheek;
Lips, by loving lips just prest,
Smiling in their rosy rest;
Hands white-folded, seeming still
With the same love's clasp to thrill;
Heart—oh! ring, thou lily bell,
Dirges without number!
Cradled soft in slumber;—
Eyes fast closed, the lashes meek
Shadowing o'er the sunny cheek;
Lips, by loving lips just prest,
Smiling in their rosy rest;
Hands white-folded, seeming still
With the same love's clasp to thrill;
Heart—oh! ring, thou lily bell,
Dirges without number!
Ring! for, sleeping 'midst the flowers,
Death stole in and found her;
Sealed the eyes in mortal night,
Changed the cheek to ghostly white,
Snatched the love-smile from the lips
Straightened now in cold eclipse,
Grasped each pale hand, that anon
Shrank and stiffened into stone,
And the heart—ring, lily bell,
Dirges deep around her!
Death stole in and found her;
Sealed the eyes in mortal night,
Changed the cheek to ghostly white,
Snatched the love-smile from the lips
Straightened now in cold eclipse,
109
Shrank and stiffened into stone,
And the heart—ring, lily bell,
Dirges deep around her!
Ring!—nay, nay, earth's love might fail—
See, a new smile waketh;
Angel-smile it seemeth now,
Lighting up lip, cheek and brow,
Like some new-found mystic thought,
With a solemn gladness fraught!
Of God's peace that smile doth tell,—
Ay, and His dear love as well;
His!—cease, cease, O lily bell,
That love ne'er forsaketh!
See, a new smile waketh;
Angel-smile it seemeth now,
Lighting up lip, cheek and brow,
Like some new-found mystic thought,
With a solemn gladness fraught!
Of God's peace that smile doth tell,—
Ay, and His dear love as well;
His!—cease, cease, O lily bell,
That love ne'er forsaketh!
| The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics | |