OPEN the beautiful gates of the West,
A chariot of gold is waiting the guest
Who, for twelve rolling moons, has been faithfully ours,
Has brought us his harvest, his fruits, and his flowers,
Has borne us thro’ trial, temptation, and tears.
Partaken our pleasures, our hopes, and our fears.
In mantle of crimson his bosom enshroud,
Pillow his head on a feathery cloud,
Smooth the grey locks of his labours that speak,
Kiss off the wrinkles that curl round his cheek;
Let breezes of Heaven attend on his flight,
And the chiming of vespers intone his good night!
Treasure the truths that his lessons have taught,
Prize the experience his presence has brought,
Cherish the hopes that at parting he gave,
Bury his sins in oblivion’s grave;
Lock up his jewels in memory’s cell,
Tenderly, tearfully, bid him farewell!
Then rest, with a pray’r on the lip and the heart,
Till the portals of Orient, bursting apart,
A pathway of light open up to the skies,
Calling nature, in music and incense, to rise
And proclaim, as the day-star of glory draws near,
That the world is awake to another New Year.
(Emily Mary Barton)
More Poetry from Emily Mary Barton:
Emily Mary Barton Poems based on Topics: Light, Success, Flowers, Nature, Heaven, Night, Beauty, World, Memory, Fear, Music- 'The Defence Of Rorke's Drift': A Reverie In The Art Gallery (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
- Earth (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
- Lines Addressed To Sir Alfred Stephen On His 90th Birthday (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
- Manifestations "God Manifests Himself in Many Ways." (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
- 'Pen" - 60th Birthday (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
- The Song of Life (Emily Mary Barton Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: World Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Nature Poems, Heaven Poems, Flowers Poems, Beauty Poems, Fear Poems, Success Poems, Gold Poems, Speaking PoemsBased on Keywords: intone, vespers, tearfully, enshroud, partaken