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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THERE WILL BE STARS by SARA TEASDALE A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN MOTHER'S LOVE by THOMAS BURBIDGE HIS REQUEST TO JULIA by ROBERT HERRICK TO THE BOY by ELIZABETH CLEMENTINE DODGE KINNEY |