Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EARTH TO EARTH by PHOEBE CARY

Poet Analysis

First Line: HIS HANDS WITH EARTHLY WORK ARE DONE
Last Line: DEAR EARTH, UPON THY BOSOM!
Subject(s): DEATH; DEAD, THE;
HIS hands with earthly work are done,
His feet are done with roving;
We bring him now to thee and ask,
The loved to take the loving.

Part back thy mantle, fringed with green,
Broidered with leaf and blossom,
And lay him tenderly to sleep,
Dear Earth, upon thy bosom.

The cheerful birds, thy liberal flowers,
Thy woods and waters only
Gave him their sweet companionship
And made his hours less lonely.

Though friendship never blest his way,
And love denied her blisses;
No flower concealed her face from him,
No wind withheld her kisses.

Nor man hath sighed, nor woman wept
To go their ways without him;
So, lying here, he still will have
His truest friends about him.

Then part thy mantle, fringed with green,
Broidered with leaf and blossom,
And lay him tenderly to sleep,
Dear Earth, upon thy bosom!



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