XX—Her Repose
Softly has the soul departed, and the body softly rests,
That was once a lovely hostel for the loveliest of guests.
Must we think our Lady waiteth for the call shall bid arise
To the Judgement of Messiah all His friends and enemies?
Chosen of God to set the human likeness on the Eternal King,
Creature nearest the Creator in that only child-bearing;
Must the body where the Maker took our heartbeats and our breath
See the elemental changes, that for ours He ordereth?
Must the spirit over which God's mighty waves and billows surged
Wait the glory of consummation till the world be healed and purged;
In its place of sweet refreshment, light and peace, by love sustained
Till the day that ushers in the reign for ever to be reigned?
Know ye not, O ye that love her, how her spirit forth was drawn
In the ecstasy of love that set her endless day a-dawn?
And her Son, the King, is coming, when the earth from darkness twice
Rolleth into light, to bring His Mother home to Paradise.
