Methought that in a Burial-ground
One still, sad vernal day,
Upon a little daisied mound
I in a slumber lay;
While faintly through my dream I heard
The hymning of that holy bird,
Who with more gushing rapture sings
The higher up in Heaven float his unwearied wings!
In that my mournful reverie,
Such song of heavenly birth
The voice seemed of a soul set free
From this imprisoning earth;
Higher and higher still it soared,
A holy anthem that adored,
Till vanished song and singer blest
In the blue depths of everlasting rest.
Just then a Child in sportive glee
Came gliding o’er the graves,
Like a lone bird that on the sea
Floats dallying with the waves;
Upon the vernal flowers awhile
She poured the beauty of her smile,
Then laid her bright cheek on the sod,
And, overpowered with joy, slept in the eye of God.
The flowers that shine all round her head
May well be breathing sweet,
For flowers are they that Spring hath shed
To deck her winding-sheet;
And well the tenderest gleams may fall
Of sunshine on that hillock small
On which she sleeps, for they have smiled
O’er the predestined grave of that unconscious Child.
In bridal garments, white as snow,
A solitary Maid
Doth meekly bring a sunny glow
Into that solemn shade.
A Churchyard seems a joyful place
In the visit of so sweet a face;
A soul is in that deep blue eye
Too good to live on earth-too beautiful to die.
But Death behind a marble Tomb
Looks out upon his prey,
And smiles to know that heavenly bloom
Is yet of earthly clay.
Far off I hear a wailing wide,
And, while I gaze upon that Bride,
A silent Wraith before me stands,
And points unto a grave with cold, pale, clasp
(John Wilson)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Sadness Poems, Soul Poems, Faces Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Heaven Poems, Flowers Poems, Beauty Poems, Smiling Poems, Birds Poems, Snow PoemsBased on Keywords: overpowered, imprisoning, burial-ground