14
IN MEMORIAM.
She dwelt among flowers, enjoying their blooms,
In garden, and trellis, and bowery places,
And studied their hues and partook their perfumes,
As they bowed to the breezes their sun-loving faces:
"Sweet Eden of beauty! O, exquisite sight!"
She said, as she watched them luxuriantly growing;
"Ye give to my senses unwonted delight,
Life's perishing emblems of Nature's bestowing.
In garden, and trellis, and bowery places,
And studied their hues and partook their perfumes,
As they bowed to the breezes their sun-loving faces:
"Sweet Eden of beauty! O, exquisite sight!"
She said, as she watched them luxuriantly growing;
"Ye give to my senses unwonted delight,
Life's perishing emblems of Nature's bestowing.
'And we are but kindred, for I too must fade,
And fall as the leaves do, in autumn descending;
And when they shall lay me away in the shade,
Whatever the state on my body attending,
Let flowers be brought from the sunlight and air,
By delicate fingers to strew o'er my sleeping,
And exhalingly lie in their loveliness there,
While the friends of my youth their last vigils are keeping
And fall as the leaves do, in autumn descending;
And when they shall lay me away in the shade,
Whatever the state on my body attending,
Let flowers be brought from the sunlight and air,
By delicate fingers to strew o'er my sleeping,
And exhalingly lie in their loveliness there,
While the friends of my youth their last vigils are keeping
"Bring them at morning, bespangled with dew;
Bring them with nectar of Nature's distilling;
Bring them at noon, while their odors are new,
And the wild birds are warbling their melodies thrilling,
And weave them in garlands, while fragrant and gay,
And drop them about me in vestal profusion;
Then leave us together, while passing away,
Like a bright but an often-remembered illusion."
Bring them with nectar of Nature's distilling;
Bring them at noon, while their odors are new,
And the wild birds are warbling their melodies thrilling,
And weave them in garlands, while fragrant and gay,
And drop them about me in vestal profusion;
Then leave us together, while passing away,
Like a bright but an often-remembered illusion."
Sweet prayer of a spirit to Beauty allied!
Thy funeral garlands are gathered and braided;
And Friendship has paid thee the rites of a bride,
Adorned for the couch by the cypresses shaded.
And over the pathway that led to thy bourn,
And over the sod where thy form is reposing,
The blossoms of virtue unfading return,
And daily thy life is its perfume disclosing.
Thy funeral garlands are gathered and braided;
And Friendship has paid thee the rites of a bride,
Adorned for the couch by the cypresses shaded.
And over the pathway that led to thy bourn,
And over the sod where thy form is reposing,
The blossoms of virtue unfading return,
And daily thy life is its perfume disclosing.
San Francisco, July 25, 1869.
