 | Household Verses |  |
22
A REQUIEM,
FOR MY YOUNG FRIEND, A. B. F.
The flowers of spring are blooming fair,
To greet the sunny May;
The lark is singing high in air
His spirit-stirring lay;—
To greet the sunny May;
The lark is singing high in air
His spirit-stirring lay;—
While thou—a lovelier, brighter flower
Than earth's rich gardens know,
Hast faded in thy spring-tide hour,
To bloom no more below!
Than earth's rich gardens know,
Hast faded in thy spring-tide hour,
To bloom no more below!
And hushed is now that gentle voice,
Which, more than sky-lark's glee,
Oft made their grateful hearts rejoice,
Who loved and cherished thee.
Which, more than sky-lark's glee,
Oft made their grateful hearts rejoice,
Who loved and cherished thee.
23
But not like flowrets of the Spring,
Which fade, and are forgot;
Or melodists, which cease to sing,
And are remembered not;—
Which fade, and are forgot;
Or melodists, which cease to sing,
And are remembered not;—
Shall thy loved name and memory be!
These in our hearts shall live;
Like sunbeams on a stormy sea,
The light of hope to give.
These in our hearts shall live;
Like sunbeams on a stormy sea,
The light of hope to give.
As bright and fair, but not so brief,
Thine image haunts us yet;
And thoughts that lighten present grief
Shall soothe our long regret.
Thine image haunts us yet;
And thoughts that lighten present grief
Shall soothe our long regret.
For in thy modest, humble worth,
No meteor charms were seen;
Its sweetest grace was not of earth,
But heavenly, and serene.
No meteor charms were seen;
Its sweetest grace was not of earth,
But heavenly, and serene.
Tried by this only sterling test,
'T will live to future years;
And they who knew and loved thee best,
May mourn—with pangless tears.
'T will live to future years;
And they who knew and loved thee best,
May mourn—with pangless tears.
24
For oh! if ever for the dead
These flow without alloy,
And almost seem, while they are shed,
Too pure, too sweet for joy;—
These flow without alloy,
And almost seem, while they are shed,
Too pure, too sweet for joy;—
Such should be thine! with humble trust,
Let them be meekly given
By those who mourn a child of dust,
Become an heir of heaven!
Let them be meekly given
By those who mourn a child of dust,
Become an heir of heaven!
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