"My mother sings, at the twilight's fall, A song of the hills far more sweet than all; "Thy mother is gone from her cares to rest, -Come thou with me to the vineyards nigh, And we'll pluck the grapes of the richest dye." "Is mother my gone from her home away? -But I know that my brothers are there at play. I know they are gathering the fox-glove's bell, Or the long fern-leaves by the sparkling well, Or they launch their boats where the bright streams flowLady, kind lady! oh! let me go." "Fair child! thy brothers are wanderers now, -Be thou at peace in thy brighter lot, "Are they gone, all gone from the sunny hill? THE DEPARTED. "Thou shalt lie down With patriarchs of the infant world—with kings, The powerful of the earth-the wise, the good, Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, All in one mighty sepulchre." To the spirit's distant shore ? Earth's mightiest men, in arm'd array, Are thither gone before. The warrior kings, whose banner Flew far as eagles fly, They are gone where swords avail them not, From the feast of victory. And the seers, who sat of yore By orient palm or wave, They have pass'd with all their starry lore— -We fear, we fear!-the sunshine Is joyous to behold, And we reck not of the buried kings, Ye shrink-the bards whose lays Have made your deep hearts burn, They have left the sun, and the voice of praise, For the land whence none return: And the lovely, whose memorial Is the verse that cannot die, They too are gone with their glorious bloom, Would ye not join that throng Of the earth's departed flowers, And the masters of the mighty song In their far and fadeless bowers? Those songs are high and holy, But they vanquish not our fear; Not from our path those flowers are gone— We fain would linger here! Linger then yet awhile, As the last leaves on the bough! -Ye have lov'd the gleam of many a smile That is taken from you now. There have been sweet singing voices In your walks that now are still; There are seats left void in your earthly homes, Which none again may fill. Soft eyes are seen no more That made spring-time in your heart; Kindred and friends are gone before,And ye still fear to part? -We fear not now, we fear not! Though the way through darkness bends; Our souls are strong to follow them, Our own familiar friends! |