Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GREAT QUESTION, by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GREAT QUESTION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The waves, they are wildly heaving
Last Line: And never be sick any more.
Subject(s): Future Life; Retribution; Eternity; After Life


THE waves, they are wildly heaving,
And bearing me out from the shore,
And I know of the things I am leaving,
But not of the things before.
O Lord of love, whom the shape of a dove
Came down and hovered o'er,
Descend to-night with heavenly light,
And show me the farther shore.

There is midnight darkness o'er me,
And 't is light, more light, I crave;
The billows behind and before me
Are gaping, each with a grave:
Descend to-night, O Lord of might,
Who died our souls to save;
Descend to-night, my Lord, my Light,
And walk with me on the wave!

My heart is heavy to breaking
Because of the mourners' sighs,
For they cannot see the awak'ning,
Nor the body with which we arise.
Thou, who for sake of men didst break
The awful seal of the tomb --
Show them the way into life, I pray,
And the body with which we come!

Comfort their pain and pining
For the nearly wasted sands,
With the many mansions shining
In the house not made with hands:
And help them by faith to see through death
To that brighter and better shore,
Where they never shall weep who are fallen asleep
And never be sick any more.





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