Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SEPARATION OF FRIENDS, by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SEPARATION OF FRIENDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Do not their souls, who 'neath the altar wait
Last Line: And all will soon be plain.
Subject(s): Death; Froude, Richard Hurrell (1803-1836); Dead, The


Do not their souls, who 'neath the Altar wait
Until their second birth,
The gift of patience need, as separate
From their first friends of earth?
Not that earth's blessings are not all outshone
By Eden's Angel flame,
But that earth knows not yet, the Dead has won
That crown, which was his aim.
For when he left it, 'twas a twilight scene
About his silent bier,
A breathless struggle, faith and sight between,
And Hope and sacred Fear.
Fear startled at his pains and dreary end,
Hope raised her chalice high,
And the twin-sisters still his shade attend,
View'd in the mourner's eye.
So day by day for him from earth ascends,
As steam in summer-even,
The speechless intercession of his friends,
Toward the azure heaven.
Ah! dearest, with a word he could dispel
All questioning, and raise
Our hearts to rapture, whispering all was well
And turning prayer to praise.
And other secrets too he could declare,
By patterns all divine,
His earthly creed retouching here and there,
And deepening every line.
Dearest! he longs to speak, as I to know,
And yet we both refrain:
It were not good: a little doubt below,
And all will soon be plain.





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