Poems (Taggart)/On the sudden Death of the Rev. William Gammell

by Cynthia Taggart

ON THE SUDDEN DEATH OF THE REV. WILLIAM GAMMELL, OF NEWPORT, R. I. 1827.

High on the willows hang your harps,
 Ye mourning, holy throng;
For Zion's teacher sleeps in dust,
 And mute 's the instructive tongue.

Now with a pensive pace ye move
 To the lone temple, where,
With eloquence divinely sweet,
 His voice dispelled your care,

There mercy was his darling theme;
 His soul, divinely taught,
Dwelt on the mysteries of His name,
 Who our salvation brought.

There heavenly strains exstatic flowed,
 Or mournful tones proclaimed
Our deep, original default;—
 And Sinai threatening flamed.

Then peace descended like a dove,
 On grace' seraphic wing;
And faith triumphant songs of love
 Bade all the ransomed sing.

Thus pious, pure, celestial peace
 Did heavenly accents bring:
Now Death has proved his conquering might,
 But Death without the sting.

For sweet was his departing hour,
 When gently from his clay
Omnipotence did loose the bands,
 And bore his soul away.