Poems (Eaton)/The Sister's Death

by Marcia Jane Eaton

THE SISTER'S DEATH.

OUR sister-band is severed
 By death's unpitying blow,
And she, the youngest, dearest-loved,
 Was soonest called to go—
And glad the spirit bade adieu
 To its worn robes of clay,
And clothed in garments pure and new,
 Soared to its home away.

As fades the glowing sunlight
 Before our longing gaze—
As withers ere the night, the flower
 First touched by morning's rays—
As dies the sweetest lingering strain
 Of music on the ear,
So soft the sound, the list'ner stills
 His tremulous breath to hear—

So dies our best and gentlest,
 With heart yet fresh and warm;
'Tis e'er "the bird that sweetest sings
 Can least endure the storm;"
The flower that blooms the loveliest
 Is first to fade at even,
And the heart that beats the truest here
 Is soonest fit for Heaven.

Yet mourn we not, dear sister,
 As those of hope bereft,
Nor would we vainly call thee back
 To us in sorrow left—
But trusting that our Father's love
 All knowledge doth excel,
We wait His time to follow thee,
 In deathless life to dwell.