 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
The Old Danvers Burying-Ground
Above the ancient burying place
Looks calmly down the full orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
Looks calmly down the full orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
And through the cold, transparent air,
The stars and planets brightly glow,
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dweller on this sphere below.
The stars and planets brightly glow,
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dweller on this sphere below.
And is there not some secret spell,
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Of the Immortal Life to tell
Beyond Time's few and fleeting years?
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Of the Immortal Life to tell
Beyond Time's few and fleeting years?
There is; for though no voice nor speech
May reach the mourner's listening ear,
The Resurrection's truth they teach,
By revelation's words made clear.
May reach the mourner's listening ear,
The Resurrection's truth they teach,
By revelation's words made clear.
That though the mortal body die,
A nobler, fairer, shall succeed;
As stars in differing glory vie,
As springs the stalk from buried seed.
A nobler, fairer, shall succeed;
As stars in differing glory vie,
As springs the stalk from buried seed.
452
That as the earthly now we wear,
Subject to suffering, change, decay;
The heavenly image we shall bear,
That fadeth not, like that, away.
Subject to suffering, change, decay;
The heavenly image we shall bear,
That fadeth not, like that, away.
There is no death in scene like this,
Though mortal forms repose around;
My thoughts mount upward to the bliss
The immortal soul with God has found.
Though mortal forms repose around;
My thoughts mount upward to the bliss
The immortal soul with God has found.
All live to Him! Though earth may hide
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
Poem No. 25a; c. 18 February 1873
| Jones Very : The Complete Poems | |