Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TOMB OF EMMELINE, by CHARLES SPRAGUE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TOMB OF EMMELINE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Spirit of sadness! Gently breathe
Last Line: Friends meet to part no more.
Subject(s): Graves; Tombs; Tombstones


SPIRIT of sadness! gently breathe
Thy holiest spell around,
While Friendship trims its minstrel wreath,
For her who coldly rests beneath
This little, silent mound.

Daughters of goodness and of grace,
O come with me and weep!
In this pale form Death's havoc trace,
Pillowed in life's dark resting-place,
Wrapped in the long, last sleep.

Come, and the lovely ruin view,
Cold in its kindred mould;
Here throbbed a heart to feeling true,
And pure as Heaven's bright pearl of dew,
That gems the lily's fold.

Here beamed an eye of life and light;
Here Health's rich crimson blushed:
That crimson fades before the blight,
That eye's sweet ray is quenched in night,
That heart's warm throb is hushed.

Dark is the dwelling of her sire,
His soul is veiled in gloom;
No more his Emma sweeps the lyre;
The tongue that kindled music's fire
Is silent in the tomb.

Grief on his wounded spirit preys;
That grief, O "who can bear?"
Each hallowed relic meets his gaze,
Of Emma's taste in brighter days,
But Emma is not there.

To thee, fond mother, mute with woe,
O, what shall Friendship say?
It cannot bid thee grief forego,
Even while its own warm tear-drops flow,
For beauty cold in clay.

No, no! away the tutored strain;
It boasts an idle power:
Like thee, I've felt how poor, how vain,
The kindest voice to soothe the pain
Of Sorrow's aching hour.

She, the beloved, has passed away,
Her blameless life is o'er;
And grief must hold its mournful sway,
Till, in a fairer, happier day,
Friends meet to part no more.





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