 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes |  |
CHALMERS.
In the hush of the desolate midnight,
Leaving no brighter behind,
A noble light was stricken
From the galaxy of mind.
Leaving no brighter behind,
A noble light was stricken
From the galaxy of mind.
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As the red lights down in the water,
When a boat shoots into the sea,
Or a star through the thin blue ether,
He vanished silently.
When a boat shoots into the sea,
Or a star through the thin blue ether,
He vanished silently.
Not the counsel of ghostly fathers
Showed him the way he trod,
Not the picture of saints and martyrs,
Nor the smile of the Mother of God;
Showed him the way he trod,
Not the picture of saints and martyrs,
Nor the smile of the Mother of God;
Not the love-lighted brows of kindred,
Nor the words of a faithful friend,
Opened up the way to his vision,
And cheered him to the end.
Nor the words of a faithful friend,
Opened up the way to his vision,
And cheered him to the end.
As a God-fearing man, and holy,
He had passed through the snares beneath,
And he needed no aid to strengthen
His soul in the hour of death.
He had passed through the snares beneath,
And he needed no aid to strengthen
His soul in the hour of death.
The steps of his faith were planted
Where the waves in vain might beat,
While the waters of death rose darkly,
And closed around his feet.
Where the waves in vain might beat,
While the waters of death rose darkly,
And closed around his feet.
Not the “Save, or I perish!” of Peter,
Was his as he faintly trod,
But the trust of that first blest martyr,
Falling asleep in God.
Was his as he faintly trod,
But the trust of that first blest martyr,
Falling asleep in God.
And we may not mourn the brightness
That is taken from our sky,
Which shall teach to the unborn ages
The way to live and die.
That is taken from our sky,
Which shall teach to the unborn ages
The way to live and die.
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes | |