O MULTITUDE of the untimely dead, Who somewhere find and seal the endless thread That ever to @3our@1 eyes must broken be -- Ye who now labor with no Death to dread: Take to your happy ranks this new access Of flaming spirit, this pure guilelessness. This noble fancy, this brave loyalty That cherished Beauty more, not Honor less: -- Him whose divining skill had power to save Too few alas! of all our wise and brave In bronze so true that what to-day he took From Life, to-morrow he to History gave: -- Him in the warmth of whose inspiring word Youth was to memorable ardor stirred, And found so clear a path that, though the guide No more was seen, the pilgrim never erred; -- In whom such frank simplicity did dwell To know him little was to know him well, Till even the passer-by shall long recall The cheerful music of a silent bell. Masters of Art and servitors of Song, Who somewhere your recessional prolong, Forgive us if too much we mourn the man So welcome now in your beloved throng. As ye are happy at his coming, we May not dissolve in grief his memory, But keep his faith in Beauty as our own, With grateful joy that such a soul should be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHNNY APPLESEED by EDGAR LEE MASTERS OH YOU ARE COMING by SARA TEASDALE DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: DIRGE FOR WOLFRAM by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB AT SAINT PRAXED'S CHURCH by ROBERT BROWNING HEROIC LOVE by JAMES GRAHAM (1612-1650) |