Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LA FETE DES MORTS, by JAMES RYDER RANDALL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LA FETE DES MORTS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Peace to the dead; though the skies are chill
Last Line: But pardon the dreamers in the dust!
Subject(s): Death; Peace; Dead, The


PEACE to the dead; though the skies are chill,
And the north wind waileth coarse and shrill;
Peace to the dead! though the living shake
The globe, with their brawling battle-quake;
Peace to the dead! though peace is not
In the regal dome or the pauper cot;
Peace to the dead! there's peace, we trust,
With the pale dreamers in the dust.

Roses and pansies guard them well,
Tinging triumphant immortelle;
Minions of Doubt, we bend the knee
To the kings and queens of mystery.
Storm and sunshine, mist and rain,
Do ye knock at their marble doors in vain?
And ye, sepulchral cliffs of night,
Do ye rise to appal their shadowed sight?
O Darkness! thy mission is not just
To the pale dreamers in the dust.

Peace to the mother, there beguiled
With her frozen lily—her deathless child;
Peace to the father and his mate,
Peace to the lowly and the great,
'Peace to the maidens as they rest
With the cross on the cold and waxen breast;
Peace to the soldier, blossom and bud,
For he fell with the sacrament of blood;
Peace to the dead! there's peace, we trust,
With the pale dreamers in the dust.

Father! if peace is not with them,
Where shall we seek for the subtle gem?
'Tis not of the Earth, for we lose it here,
And death is the gate of the golden sphere.
Father! Thy mercies cannot cease;
Crush us, but give Thy sleepers peace.
Smite us, Redeemer, if Thou must,
But pardon the dreamers in the dust!





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