TO THE MOURNERS THE bridal garland falls upon the bier, The shadow of a crown, that o'er him hung, Has vanish'd in the shadow cast by Death. So princely, tender, truthful, reverent, pure -- Mourn! That a world-wide Empire mourns with you, That all the Thrones are clouded by your loss, Were slender solace. Yet be comforted; For if this earth be ruled by Perfect Love, Then, after his brief range of blameless days, The toll of funeral in an Angel ear Sounds happier than the merriest marriage-bell. The face of Death is toward the Sun of Life, His shadow darkens earth: his truer name Is 'Onward,' no discordance in the roll And march of that Eternal Harmony Whereto the worlds beat time, tho' faintly heard Until the great Hereafter. Mourn in hope! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BETRAND AND GOURGAUD TALK OVER OLD TIMES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON AN EGYPTIAN PULLED GLASS BOTTLE IN THE SHAPE OF A FISH by MARIANNE MOORE ON BURNING A DULL POEM; WRITTEN IN 1729 by JONATHAN SWIFT RUSTIC CHILDHOOD by WILLIAM BARNES SHE LOOKS BEYOND TO-MORROW by RUTH FITCH BARTLETT |