THE EVENING BEFORE A JOURNEY.
DEAR spot, where rests the mould’ring clay
Of her I lov’d, farewell!
My pangs these falling tears betray,
Which now my bosom swell.
How oft I’ve held within my arms
The form which rests below!
How fondly gaz’d on infant charms,
Doom’d ne’er, alas! to blow!
How oft her balmy lips I’ve press’d
With rapture close to mine,
And with a parent’s fondness bless’d
The babe I thought divine!
How oft has Hope her mantle spread,
And cheer’d my sinking heart!
But Hope, dear babe, with thee has fled,
And Grief hath fixed its dart.
Thy dying scene keen Mem’ry brings
Full oft before mine eyes;
With the deep groan mine ear still rings,
Which snapt thy earthly ties.
Ah! who the anguish’d grief can paint,
Which did my bosom swell?
E’en eloquence itself would faint,
To tell the story well.
How oft I press’d the senseless clay,
With anguish to my heart;
With tearful eyes then turn’d away,
And cried, Ah! must we part?
At length the dreadful hour arriv’d,
When she from me was borne;–
And now the earth must ever hide
That dear and much-lov’d form.
No more, alas! these aching eyes
A sight of her can have
On earth;–stern Fate that boon denies:–
She moulders in the grave.
Farewell, dear babe! nor time, nor place,
From Recollection’s cell
Can ever thy dear mem’ry chase,
Till tolls my passing bell.
And then my soul, on wings of love,
Shall mount, thy shade to meet,
And range the fields of joy above,
Sweet babe, till thee it greet.
(Elizabeth Beverley)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Sadness Poems, Time Poems, Soul Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Place Poems, Cry Poems, Hope Poems, Grief Poems, Parents PoemsBased on Keywords: moulders, snapt, arriv, much-lov