Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MISS F.A.L. ON THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MISS F.A.L. ON THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Say not 'tis fruitless, nature's holy tear
Last Line: The all it wanted -- immortality!
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Death - Mothers; Dead, The


SAY not 'tis fruitless, nature's holy tear,
Shed by affection o'er a parent's bier!
By earthly sorrow strengthened for the skies,
Till the sad heart, whose pangs exalt its love,
With its lost treasure seeks a home -- above.

But grief will claim her hour, -- and He, whose eye
Looks pitying down on nature's agony,
He, in whose love the righteous calmly sleep,
Who bids us hope, forbids us not to weep!
He, too, hath wept -- and sacred be the woes
Once borne by Him, their inmost source who knows,
Searches each wounds and bids His Spirit bring
Celestial healing on its dove-like wing!
And who but He shall soothe, when one dread stroke,
Ties, that were fibres of the soul, hath broke?
Oh! well may those, yet lingering here, deplore
The vanished light, that cheers their path no more!
The Almighty hand, which many a blessing dealt,
Sends its keen arrows not to be unfelt!
By fire and storm Heaven tries the Christian's worth,
And joy departs, to wean us from the earth,
Where still too long, with beings born to die,
Time hath dominion o'er Eternity.

Yet not the less, o'er all the heart hath lost,
Shall Faith rejoice when Nature grieves the most;
Then comes her triumph! through the shadowy gloom,
Her star in glory rises from the tomb,
Mounts to the day-spring, leaves the cloud below,
And gilds the tears that cease not yet to flow!
Yes, all is o'er! fear, doubt, suspense are fled,
Let brighter thoughts be with the virtuous dead!
The final ordeal of the soul is past,
And the pale brow is sealed to Heaven at last!

And thou, loved spirit! for the skies mature,
Steadfast in faith, in meek devotion pure;
Thou that didst make the home thy presence blest,
Bright with the sunshine of thy gentle breast,
Where peace a holy dwelling-place had found,
Whence beamed her smile benignantly around;
Thou, that to bosoms widowed and bereft
Dear, precious records of thy worth hast left,
The treasured gem of sorrowing hearts to be,
Till Heaven recall surviving love to thee!

O cherished and revered! fond memory well
On thee, with sacred, sad delight, may dwell!
So pure, so blest thy life, that death alone
Could make more perfect happiness thine own;
More blest than dew on Hermon's brow that falls,
Each drop to life some latent virtue calls;
Awakes some purer hope, ordained to rise,
He came -- thy cup of joy, serenely bright,
Full to the last, still flowed in cloudless light;
He came -- an angel, bearing from on high
The all it wanted -- Immortality!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net