Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE POET'S DEATH-BED, by RICHARD SOLOMON GEDNEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POET'S DEATH-BED, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Spirit of splendour! / linked to corruption!
Last Line: Fare thee well! Fare thee well!
Subject(s): Aging; Farewell; Poetry & Poets; Soul; Weariness; Parting; Fatigue


SPIRIT of Splendour!
Linked to Corruption!
Star-bright, enshrouded deeply in darkness,
Spirit immortal, sphered in the garments
Woven of earth;
Anxious and sighing-one,
Grief-stricken, dying-one,
Even now flinging
From thee thy cerements,
Painfully winging,
Spite of endearments,
Away from the torment
Of Life and of Being,
That clings round Eve's offspring
From their sad birth.

Lo! from the portal,
Pure and star-shining,
Where the eternal
Children of Heaven,
Ever inclining to the Supernal,
Joyously render hymns of thanksgiving!
We, the bright loving
Angels, selected
To guard thee and guide thee
Through life and its terrors,
Its falsehoods, its errors,
Hither have flown,
Sadly, and sadly,
To see thee once more,
Ere thy soul shall depart,
And the struggle be o'er!

Fare thee well! Fare thee well!
Weary one, weary one,
Soul of the Minstrel!
Like the eruption bursting from Hecla,
In flame and in power,
When its caverns are riven like crystal asunder,
Like crystal uncovered and severed,
With fire and with thunder,
While clouds darkly lour
O'er its fierce, foaming chasm;
Even such be the hour
Of the final death-spasm
That frees thee from life,
For the contest and strife
With the cohorts of Hell,
That keep guard round thy bed—
Fare thee well! Fare thee well!





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