 | Fragments and Fancies |  |
MOURNERS OF EARTH!
Mourners of Earth!—Oh! ye who weep
O'er crushing sorrows dark and deep,
Ye who to Hope have bade farewell,
Ye who 'mongst gloomiest shadows dwell,
Oh! but the Midnight of your Sorrow
May have a glad and glorious Morrow!
O'er crushing sorrows dark and deep,
Ye who to Hope have bade farewell,
Ye who 'mongst gloomiest shadows dwell,
Oh! but the Midnight of your Sorrow
May have a glad and glorious Morrow!
14
There may be miseries, ills, and woes,
And cares, that never win repose
In this strange world, where day by day
We find the enchantments fade away;
But oh! this world 'tis passing ever,
And from its scenes, we all must sever.
And cares, that never win repose
In this strange world, where day by day
We find the enchantments fade away;
But oh! this world 'tis passing ever,
And from its scenes, we all must sever.
Mourners of Earth! perchance your part,
Though now your minds with anguish smart,
Is not a heavier one to bear
Than theirs who mingle joy with care,
Those who indeed rejoice with trembling,
For ever to themselves dissembling!
Though now your minds with anguish smart,
Is not a heavier one to bear
Than theirs who mingle joy with care,
Those who indeed rejoice with trembling,
For ever to themselves dissembling!
Seeking to make themselves believe
Their hearts with no vain doubtings heave,
Till even their happiness becomes,
In this dim sphere of clouds and tombs,
More of a keen pain than a pleasure—
A rich—but treasure-draining treasure!
Their hearts with no vain doubtings heave,
Till even their happiness becomes,
In this dim sphere of clouds and tombs,
More of a keen pain than a pleasure—
A rich—but treasure-draining treasure!
15
Although possessed—yet evermore
Costing a deep price—o'er and o'er!
For fearful things are heart-joys here!
While Death, and Change, and Doom are near—
Here Love and Death have awful meetings,
Checking the deep heart's fevered beatings!
Costing a deep price—o'er and o'er!
For fearful things are heart-joys here!
While Death, and Change, and Doom are near—
Here Love and Death have awful meetings,
Checking the deep heart's fevered beatings!
Mourners of Earth! no more ye'll find
How every rose with thorns is lined,
The blaze of changeful life shall ne'er
Blind ye with its delusive glare—
There is a Peace which Heaven bestoweth,
Which but the heart that hopes not knoweth.
How every rose with thorns is lined,
The blaze of changeful life shall ne'er
Blind ye with its delusive glare—
There is a Peace which Heaven bestoweth,
Which but the heart that hopes not knoweth.
Mourners of Earth! methinks for ye
'Tis well 'mongst shadowing clouds to be—
What though those clouds which dim your day
One breath of Love might clear away,
One breath of Love—one breath of Gladness,
Might bring ere long a deeper Sadness!
'Tis well 'mongst shadowing clouds to be—
What though those clouds which dim your day
One breath of Love might clear away,
One breath of Love—one breath of Gladness,
Might bring ere long a deeper Sadness!
16
Then, Mourners! still be Mourners here,
Joy hath its bane—and Hope its fear;
But Joy and Hope no more shall shine
With light deceitful as divine,
To eyes of agonizing weeping,
Which meet kind glances but in sleeping.
Joy hath its bane—and Hope its fear;
But Joy and Hope no more shall shine
With light deceitful as divine,
To eyes of agonizing weeping,
Which meet kind glances but in sleeping.
Mourners of Earth!—Oh! ye who 've lost
The Dear Ones that you cherished most,
No offices of tenderness
May now your crushed existence bless;
But they are saved from grief and mourning,
For whom your heavy hearts are yearning.
The Dear Ones that you cherished most,
No offices of tenderness
May now your crushed existence bless;
But they are saved from grief and mourning,
For whom your heavy hearts are yearning.
And still in Heaven they claim your love,
And draw your faithful thoughts above,
Earth's mightiest affections fail,
And all our feelings are but frail;
But where the awful grave hath bound them,
A holiness seems to surround them.
And draw your faithful thoughts above,
Earth's mightiest affections fail,
And all our feelings are but frail;
But where the awful grave hath bound them,
A holiness seems to surround them.
17
Then, though no more kind looks and words
May wake your heart's still sleeping chords,
Nor all the love which they express
Thrill ye with glowing happiness,
From many sources ye may borrow
A solace for your cherished sorrow!
May wake your heart's still sleeping chords,
Nor all the love which they express
Thrill ye with glowing happiness,
From many sources ye may borrow
A solace for your cherished sorrow!
Though, hapless Ones! for you 'tis true
Morn's radiant skies smile dimly blue,
And gloomy seems that gracious hour
Which glorifies the tree and flower,
And fills all Earth with bloom and sweetness,
For you it flies with blessed fleetness!
Morn's radiant skies smile dimly blue,
And gloomy seems that gracious hour
Which glorifies the tree and flower,
And fills all Earth with bloom and sweetness,
For you it flies with blessed fleetness!
That hour, and all the hours that pass
So swiftly and so soon—Alas!
Ye gladly speed upon their flight—
For Life—for Day—is Death and Night
To ye—whose hopes are gone before ye,
And like the far stars—smiling o'er ye!
So swiftly and so soon—Alas!
Ye gladly speed upon their flight—
For Life—for Day—is Death and Night
To ye—whose hopes are gone before ye,
And like the far stars—smiling o'er ye!
18
All things for ye, however glad,
Have something in them soft and sad;
There is a cloud for every ray
That laughs out on a Summer's day;
In the Harp's crowning tones, faint sighings
Sound like lorn Echo's last replyings.
Have something in them soft and sad;
There is a cloud for every ray
That laughs out on a Summer's day;
In the Harp's crowning tones, faint sighings
Sound like lorn Echo's last replyings.
All things for ye grief-touched appear,
Save one thing—in itself most drear,
That loses—but for ye—its gloom,
That saddest thing on Earth—the Tomb!
By you, the hapless broken hearted,
To a bright temple 'tis converted!
Save one thing—in itself most drear,
That loses—but for ye—its gloom,
That saddest thing on Earth—the Tomb!
By you, the hapless broken hearted,
To a bright temple 'tis converted!
Though Morning with her sungifts all
Hath undertones in her blithe call,
And shadows of deep gloom ye see,
Where no dim mournful shadows be—
The Night, when the long Day is ended,
For ye more starry seems and splendid.
Hath undertones in her blithe call,
And shadows of deep gloom ye see,
Where no dim mournful shadows be—
The Night, when the long Day is ended,
For ye more starry seems and splendid.
19
The Night reminds of other things,
And many a soaring thought it brings,
And lifts the Mourner's heart above,
Upon the wings of faith and love!
Yes—while the immortal stars are shining,
The wretched cease their fond repining.
And many a soaring thought it brings,
And lifts the Mourner's heart above,
Upon the wings of faith and love!
Yes—while the immortal stars are shining,
The wretched cease their fond repining.
The ever glorious Sun of Day
Decks the glad Earth in bright array,
But these sweet Stars, with their faint light,
Attract to Heaven the yearning sight,
Soon as their soft reign is beginning,
To Heaven the thoughts and feelings winning.
Decks the glad Earth in bright array,
But these sweet Stars, with their faint light,
Attract to Heaven the yearning sight,
Soon as their soft reign is beginning,
To Heaven the thoughts and feelings winning.
Oh! Earthly Hope! say, what art thou
Whose charms still countless hearts avow,
A meteor gleaming among tombs,
To show their terrors 'mid their glooms;
But Heavenly Hope! thou shin'st and soarest,
And at the Eternal Throne adorest.
Whose charms still countless hearts avow,
A meteor gleaming among tombs,
To show their terrors 'mid their glooms;
But Heavenly Hope! thou shin'st and soarest,
And at the Eternal Throne adorest.
20
Mourners of Earth!—perchance 'tis well
For ye on Earth 'mid shades to dwell,
To turn dimmed agonizing eyes
On the rich blush of Morning's skies,
And fix your thoughts—the sad and lonely,
On Heaven and Heavenly Prospects only!
For ye on Earth 'mid shades to dwell,
To turn dimmed agonizing eyes
On the rich blush of Morning's skies,
And fix your thoughts—the sad and lonely,
On Heaven and Heavenly Prospects only!
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