 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes |  |
LOVE AT THE GRAVE.
Remembrancer of nature's prime,
And herald of her fading near,
The last month of the summer time
Of leaves and flowers is with us here.
And herald of her fading near,
The last month of the summer time
Of leaves and flowers is with us here.
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More eloquent than lip can preach
To every heart that hopes and fears,
What solemn lessons does it teach
Of the quick passage of our years!
To every heart that hopes and fears,
What solemn lessons does it teach
Of the quick passage of our years!
To me it brings sad thoughts of one,
Who, in the summer's fading bloom,
Bright from the arms of love went down
To the dim silence of the tomb.
Who, in the summer's fading bloom,
Bright from the arms of love went down
To the dim silence of the tomb.
How often since has spring's soft shower
Revived the life in nature's breast,
And the sweet herb and tender flower
Have been renewed above her rest!
Revived the life in nature's breast,
And the sweet herb and tender flower
Have been renewed above her rest!
How many summer times have told
To mortal hearts their rapid flight,
Since first this heap of yellow mould
Shut out her beauty from my sight!
To mortal hearts their rapid flight,
Since first this heap of yellow mould
Shut out her beauty from my sight!
Since first, to love's sweet promise true,
My feet beside her pillow trod,
Till year by year the pathway grew
Deeper and deeper in the sod!
My feet beside her pillow trod,
Till year by year the pathway grew
Deeper and deeper in the sod!
Now these neglected roses tell
Of no kind hand to tend them nigh;
Oh, God! I have not kept so well
My faith as in the years gone by.
Of no kind hand to tend them nigh;
Oh, God! I have not kept so well
My faith as in the years gone by.
But here to-day my step returns,
And, kneeling where these willows wave,
As the soft flame of sunrise burns
Down through the dim leaves to thy grave,
And, kneeling where these willows wave,
As the soft flame of sunrise burns
Down through the dim leaves to thy grave,
I cry, Forgive that I should prove
Forgetful of thy memory;
Forgive me, that a living love
Once came between my soul and thee!
Forgetful of thy memory;
Forgive me, that a living love
Once came between my soul and thee!
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For the weak heart that faintly yearned
For human love its life to cheer,
Baffled and bleeding has returned
To stifle down its crying here.
For human love its life to cheer,
Baffled and bleeding has returned
To stifle down its crying here.
For, steadfast still, thy faith to me
Was one which earth could not estrange:
And, lost one! where the angels be
I know affection may not change.
Was one which earth could not estrange:
And, lost one! where the angels be
I know affection may not change.
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes | |