 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
AND IS SHE DEAD?
And is she dead? and must we trust
To that so hideous hateful tale,
Can light and love and air be dust,
The Sunbreak cold—the Rainbow pale?
To that so hideous hateful tale,
Can light and love and air be dust,
The Sunbreak cold—the Rainbow pale?
Ah! me, how wonderful a Doom!
For now too wonderful it seems!
How can the cold dull common tomb,
O'ertake a thing all thoughts and dreams?
For now too wonderful it seems!
How can the cold dull common tomb,
O'ertake a thing all thoughts and dreams?
97
Full many a one hath passed away,
And I have sighed, and sighing said,
'Tis dust to dust—and clay to clay,
And so farewell unto the Dead!
And I have sighed, and sighing said,
'Tis dust to dust—and clay to clay,
And so farewell unto the Dead!
But thou—Oh! thou!—with strange distrust
I hear what hated lips repeat,
How can Divinity and dust
Together for one moment meet?
I hear what hated lips repeat,
How can Divinity and dust
Together for one moment meet?
How can the chill and crushing Earth
O'er that intense Existence close?
Each moment to more kindling birth
Thou seem'dst to spring—my broken rose!
O'er that intense Existence close?
Each moment to more kindling birth
Thou seem'dst to spring—my broken rose!
How can the common general grave
Receive a thing so bright and free?
How can that mute that frozen cave
Be closed—thou Heaven of Life! on thee?
Receive a thing so bright and free?
How can that mute that frozen cave
Be closed—thou Heaven of Life! on thee?
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