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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UNTIL THE DAWN, by HENRY CHAPPELL
First Line: A lonely grave hard by the prison wall
Last Line: Of earth and sorrow pale before its light.
Subject(s): Cavell, Edith (1865-1915); Cemeteries; Death; Flowers; Graves; Mourning; Nurses; Graveyards; Dead, The; Tombs; Tombstones; Bereavement
First Line: A lonely grave hard by the prison wall
Last Line: Of earth and sorrow pale before its light.
Subject(s): Cavell, Edith (1865-1915); Cemeteries; Death; Flowers; Graves; Mourning; Nurses; Graveyards; Dead, The; Tombs; Tombstones; Bereavement
A LONELY grave hard by the prison wall,
No loving hand to lay a simple flower,
No heart-wrung tear upon the sod may fall
That shrouds the victim of a tyrant's power.
Yet all the world in spirit kneels and weeps,
And fragrant blooms of sympathy are spread
Dewy with tears, for her who lowly sleeps
'Neath alien skies till God shall wake His dead.
She would not stoop to lie. Her fleeting breath
Was spent for Truth in sacrifice complete,
Noble in life, but nobler far in Death
Whose darkness gathered thick about her feet.
But not in vain she died: the pale cold hand
Has lit in every heart a torch of flame;
Has forged for manhood's arm a keener brand
For us to wield in Justice's sacred name.
Her gentle soul forgave the bitter wrong.
Implacate, Justice claims her lawful meed
Thro' us who love her, for that lonely grave,
Else Britain's honour were a broken reed.
Farewell, great soul, for you the sombre glade
Held nought of terror; 'twas a dreamless night
Whose morn should rise triumphant, and the shade
Of earth and sorrow pale before its light.
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