Poems (Hornblower)/Lines, on the Death of a beloved Friend

by Jane Elizabeth Roscoe Hornblower

LINES,

ON THE DEATH OF A BELOVED FRIEND.

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God! who reigned within thy heart,
Ever of thy thoughts a part,
 Now hath called thee hence;
Thou hast trod the blissful way.
To the realms of radiant day,
 Beyond our mortal sense.

Fondest prayers and holiest tears,
Trembling hopes and tender fears,
 Vainly called thee back;
Long thy spirit, winged for heaven,
With its bonds of clay had striven
 To gain that blissful track.

And thou art there—Ah! thought, though bright.
Can never scale that Infinite,
 The holy of our God!
Thy tender heart, thy gentle love
Now shine in angel forms above,
 Amid that blest abode!

Yes! He whom thou hast served so well,
To glory inaccessible
 Now wings thy radiant flight;
Thy patient cares, thy tears are o'er,
And his own hand doth now restore
 Thy youth—for ever bright!

Amidst that bliss, from that pure throne,
Spirit beloved! ah! once look down
 On these thy children here;
With pitying eye behold their loss,
And mark them humbly take their cross,
 And check each faithless tear.

In thy meek footsteps bid them walk,
At"dewy eve" still with them talk,
 In nature's melodies—
Let each fair flower, each fragrant scene,
Recall the spot where thou hast been,
 With memory's fondest sighs.

Ala yes! be with us still—still guide
The loved ones fostered at thy side,
 Reared by thy tenderness—
Thy wisdom calm, thy heavenly faith,
Thy patient love, preserved till death,
 Shall still protect and bless.

Though tears may sometimes gem the flowers
That tell of days when thou wert ours,
 To grieve we will not dare,
But fondly on our breasts will place
The relics, that shall still retrace
 The image cherished there!