THE DEPARTED.
In vain, in these deserted rooms,
I listen for their echoing tread;
Alone the faithful wild-flower blooms
Over each lonely sleeper's head.
Their foot-marks from the earth have gone,
They live but in the worshipped past—
Hushed is each dearly treasured tone,
Silent each wandering wish, at last!
I listen for their echoing tread;
Alone the faithful wild-flower blooms
Over each lonely sleeper's head.
Their foot-marks from the earth have gone,
They live but in the worshipped past—
Hushed is each dearly treasured tone,
Silent each wandering wish, at last!
They sleep in peace, but oh, how long
Will mourning hearts proclaim their worth,
And dwell on each remembered song,
Above their consecrated earth!
The songs that lisping children loved,
The heart may syllable once more,
When the still lip and eye have proved
Their latest earthly task is o'er!
Will mourning hearts proclaim their worth,
And dwell on each remembered song,
Above their consecrated earth!
The songs that lisping children loved,
The heart may syllable once more,
When the still lip and eye have proved
Their latest earthly task is o'er!
Yet oh, on each deserted spot,
What shadowy images arise!
Each flower and quivering leaf seems fraught
With love's delicious memories;
Affection's kindly uttered word,
Affection's sympathizing eye,
Come in the song of woodland bird—
Come from the over-arching sky.
What shadowy images arise!
Each flower and quivering leaf seems fraught
With love's delicious memories;
Affection's kindly uttered word,
Affection's sympathizing eye,
Come in the song of woodland bird—
Come from the over-arching sky.
They sleep! but there are some who sleep
And dream of the departed dead,
Till slumber's eye hath learned to weep,
And slumber's blessedness hath fled;
Yet will the day awake once more,
When the long, tedious night is past—
So, when life's wearying task is o'er,
The loved and lost shall meet at last!
And dream of the departed dead,
Till slumber's eye hath learned to weep,
And slumber's blessedness hath fled;
Yet will the day awake once more,
When the long, tedious night is past—
So, when life's wearying task is o'er,
The loved and lost shall meet at last!