Poems (Crandall)/At Rest

by Rosa Neil Crandall

For works with similar titles, see At Rest.

At Rest

When the toil of life is over,
  And the soul has moved away,
Let no costly flowers be wasted,
  On its empty house of clay.

Rather let their beauty gladden
  Some heart burdened still with care;
To some weary troubled spirit,
  Let them hope and courage bear.

When the toil of life is over,
  Let no tears for me be shed,
Rather weep ye for the living;
  Sweetly sleep the silent dead.

If of words of loving kindness
  You have not unfailing store,
Save them, save them, I entreat you,
  Beating hearts will need them more.

May they help some friend or stranger
  To temptation's voice a prey;
When life's toil for me is over,
  And the soul has passed away.