Deathless Death

We who have seen the seed fall without soundInto the lifeless ground,Through wintry days are tempted to forgetHow Spring will come with the first violetIn her dark hair,Fresh and more fairThan we remembered her, a glad surpriseIn the veiled azure of her shadowy eyes.

Fear doth the heart deceive,And still we grieveWhere we should lift the voiceIn triumph, and rejoiceAmid our sorrow,Because of what the pastHas given that is beauteous and shall last—A heritage of blessing for the morrow.

Lo, in what perfect trustNature confides her darlings to the dust!The rose, the crocus, the narcissus sweet,She lays to rest, undoubting, at her feetWho from the meadows brightWas snatched away to rule in the sad lightOf Hades, and to learnIts lessons stern.For Nature's faith is deepThat, waking from the dark and dreamless sleep,Her flowers toward the sun shall wistful yearn,And in the fragrant breast of Proserpine return.

Ah, lover true of men,Forgive, forgive us, then,If choked by tears we falter in our praise,Remembering that we no more againShall hold glad converse with thy spirit brave,Nor from thy lips hear words that lift and save,Through all the lengthening number of our days!

By the great Silence thou art set apartFrom all the restless travail of the heartThat beats in usSo passionate and strong—Art passed beyond the evening angelusAnd Memnon's morning song. ··········

Man's life on earth—how brief!Yet we with Nature hold the high belief,E'en when our hearts are breaking,That death is but the vital way,Darkness the shadow of the day,And sleep the door to waking!

And shall we still with tearsPay tribute sad to one whose soul endearsEven the dark, dark river it hath crossed?Shall we in grief forgetThe sweetness and the glory of our debt,And that no good, once given, can be lost?

Distant thy dwelling seems,Poet and patriot!—but, ah, thy dreamsAre living as the flame of sacrifice!Therefore love's roses nowWe lay amidst the laurel for thy brow,Grateful that souls like thine our earth emparadise.