Page:Twilight Hours (1868).djvu/249

There were glittering mansions around us,
Which we fain would have claimed for our own :
But on each was a name, writ in letters of flame,
And the name was a name unknown.

Then we sorrowful grew, being strangers,
And you looked in my face, and you said,
" Is this Heaven indeed ? but I still am in need.
Is this life ? then I fain were dead."

We went wandering, wandering, wandering,
Far away from the shining throne ;
For on all who stood there was a garment so fair,
And the garb was a garb unknown.

Then one came to us, radiant with greeting,
But he spoke with a tongue unknown,
And we saw that his lips had been touched as with fire,
And his brow with a white white stone.

Then he led us away to the portal,
Led us out by the pearly gate ;
With a wave of the hand he commanded to stand
Where he left us, to stand, and wait.