Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JENNIE, by PHOEBE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JENNIE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: You have sent me from her tomb
Last Line: "and my love exceedeth thine!"
Subject(s): Consolation; Death; Dead, The


YOU have sent me from her tomb
A poor withered flower to keep,
Broken off in perfect bloom,
Such as hers, who lies asleep --
Underneath the roses lies,
Hidden from your mortal eyes,
Never from your heart concealed,
Always to your soul revealed.

Oh, to think, as day and night
Come and go, and go and come,
How the smile which was its light
Hath been darkened in your home!
Oh, to think that those dear eyes,
Copied from the summer skies,
Could have veiled their heavenly blue
From the sunshine, and from you!

Oh, to have that tender mouth,
With its loveliness complete,
Shut up in its budding youth
From all kisses, fond and sweet!
Fairest blossom, red and rare,
Could not with her lips compare;
Yea, her mouth's young beauty shamed
All the roses ever named.

Why God hid her from your sight,
Leaving anguish in her place,
At the noonday sent the night,
Night that almost hid his face,
Not to us is fully shown,
Not to mortals can be known,
Though they strive, through tears and doubt,
Still to guess his meaning out.

Full of mystery 't is, and yet
If you clasped still those charms,
Mother, might you not forget
Mothers who have empty arms?
If you satisfied in her
Every want and every need,
Could you be a comforter
To the hearts that moan and bleed?

Take this solace for your woe:
God's love never groweth dim;
All of goodness that you know,
All your loving comes from him!
You say, "She has gone to death!"
Very tenderly, God saith:
"Better so; I make her mine,
And my love exceedeth thine!"





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