Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SHED NO TEARS O'ER THAT TOMB, by EMILY JANE BRONTE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SHED NO TEARS O'ER THAT TOMB, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis
Subject(s): Mourning; Bereavement


Shed no tears o'er that tomb,
āàFor there are angels weeping;
Mourn not him whose doom
āàHeaven itself is mourning.

Look how in sable gloom
āàThe clouds are earthward yearning;
And earth receives them home,
āàEven darker clouds returning.

Is it when good men die
āàThat sorrow wakes above?
Grieve Saints when other spirits fly
āàTo swell their choir of love?

Ah! no: with louder sound
āàThe golden harp strings quiver
When good men gain the happy ground
āàWhere they must dwell for ever.

But he who slumbers there
āàHis bark will strive no more
Across the waters of despair
āàTo reach that glorious shore.

The time of grace is past,
āàAnd mercy, scorned and tried,
Forsakes to utter wrath at last
āàThe soul so steeled by pride.

That wrath will never spare,
āàWill never pity know;
Will mock its victims maddened prayer,
āàWill triumph in his woe.

Shut from his Maker's smile
āàThe accursed man shall be;
For mercy reigns a little while,
āàBut hate eternally.






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