 | Verses from The island book |  |
6
ON A SOLITARY GRAVE FOUND ON THE ISLAND.
O'er that simple mound, in the forest wild,
May the stranger thoughtful tread;
For beneath it sleeps a long-lost child
Alone in its lonely bed.
May the stranger thoughtful tread;
For beneath it sleeps a long-lost child
Alone in its lonely bed.
No record tells of its birth or name,
Or what hopes lie buried there,—
Of the tears which were shed for the loved one dead,
Or the hearts that were bowed in prayer.
Or what hopes lie buried there,—
Of the tears which were shed for the loved one dead,
Or the hearts that were bowed in prayer.
Perhaps 't was its mother, who thought the sleep
Of her child might calmer be,
Where the wild flowers bloom on its grassy tomb,
And the breath of heaven is free.
Of her child might calmer be,
Where the wild flowers bloom on its grassy tomb,
And the breath of heaven is free.
She laid him down where the summer winds
And the birds his requiem sing;
Where the young fawns play, when early day
Is fresh with the dews of spring.
And the birds his requiem sing;
Where the young fawns play, when early day
Is fresh with the dews of spring.
7
The autumn leaves have for untold years
Fallen lightly on that lone grave,
And the stars at night shed their mild pure light
Through the branches that o'er it wave.
Fallen lightly on that lone grave,
And the stars at night shed their mild pure light
Through the branches that o'er it wave.
We would have it thus:—let the nameless child
Still sleep in its forest grave,
On the tranquil breast of Nature at rest,
And its spirit with God who gave.
Still sleep in its forest grave,
On the tranquil breast of Nature at rest,
And its spirit with God who gave.
1843.
| Verses from The island book | |