Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMFORT YE!, by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMFORT YE!, by                    
First Line: In that sweet after-life
Last Line: "and bid us ""welcome home!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxenham, John
Subject(s): Future Life; Retribution; Eternity; After Life


I

In that sweet after-life,
When time is done,
And living hearts again are one
In perfect union,
You shall look back and say, --
"And did I mourn that he
Passed on in front of me
By just one day?
The time indeed seemed long to me,
And hushed my song in misery;
But, in the light of this eternity,
'Twas but a span, -- just a short winter's day, --
Soon past
And by these present joys far overpassed."

II

I see their shining eyes,
Their glad and eager faces,
Waiting to welcome us
To the heavenly places.
And how shall we complain
Of our own loss and pain,
When unto them we know the change
Is all eternal gain?

III

Ah -- how we miss him --
Every hour of every day!
Life, since he went, has been a gray
Dull way, wherein we stray
Neighboured with grief, and blinded with dismay.

Never to see him more!
To hear his voice! -- to see his face again!
Lord, it is sore beyond our ken, --
How shall our hearts endure
Discomfiture so great and such vast forfeiture?

And yet, our faith dare not gainsay
Thy love in taking him away.
Such good is his, such perfect bliss,
How could we wish him back in this
Small world of grim perplexities?

And, of a truth, at times he feels so near, --
Nearer in very deed
Than when we had him here, --
That we are comforted.
We cast despair and put away our fear.

We shall not see him here again;
To us he may not come;
But when at last we shall attain
The heavenly place, be his dear face
The first to greet us in Thy grace
And bid us "Welcome Home!"





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