A Statue
You who love to look on statues,
And the rarest would not miss,
Speak in whispers and step softly
When you come to look at this.
Was there ever whiter marble?
Not a hint of color there,
Save—or is it light from Heaven?—
Golden glints upon the hair.
They who look upon this statue
Must come quickly. Ere the dawn
Of another day shall brighten
Heavy curtains will be drawn
O'er the niche that must receive it:
There, in silence consecrate,
Where no mortal eye can see it,
It will resurrection wait.
Do you say, as you stand weeping,
By its awful power oppressed,
That its place is in the sunlight?
Nay: the statue's name is Rest.
Nothing may disturb its quiet;
Shade on shade will wrap it round:
Peace will guard the heavy portal
Of its temple underground.
“Cruel, cruel!” you make answer;
“All it lacks is blood and breath!”
Hush! two sculptors wrought this statue,
And their names are Life and Death.
Comes a day when earth and Heaven
Shall be shaken; then ah! then,
This white statue shall be lifted,
This dead creature live again!
You who love to look on statues,
And the rarest would not miss,
Speak in whispers and step softly
When you come to look at this.
Was there ever whiter marble?
Not a hint of color there,
Save—or is it light from Heaven?—
Golden glints upon the hair.
They who look upon this statue
Must come quickly. Ere the dawn
Of another day shall brighten
Heavy curtains will be drawn
O'er the niche that must receive it:
There, in silence consecrate,
Where no mortal eye can see it,
It will resurrection wait.
Do you say, as you stand weeping,
By its awful power oppressed,
That its place is in the sunlight?
Nay: the statue's name is Rest.
Nothing may disturb its quiet;
Shade on shade will wrap it round:
Peace will guard the heavy portal
Of its temple underground.
“Cruel, cruel!” you make answer;
“All it lacks is blood and breath!”
Hush! two sculptors wrought this statue,
And their names are Life and Death.
Comes a day when earth and Heaven
Shall be shaken; then ah! then,
This white statue shall be lifted,
This dead creature live again!
And the rarest would not miss,
Speak in whispers and step softly
When you come to look at this.
Was there ever whiter marble?
Not a hint of color there,
Save—or is it light from Heaven?—
Golden glints upon the hair.
They who look upon this statue
Must come quickly. Ere the dawn
Of another day shall brighten
Heavy curtains will be drawn
O'er the niche that must receive it:
There, in silence consecrate,
Where no mortal eye can see it,
It will resurrection wait.
Do you say, as you stand weeping,
By its awful power oppressed,
That its place is in the sunlight?
Nay: the statue's name is Rest.
Nothing may disturb its quiet;
Shade on shade will wrap it round:
Peace will guard the heavy portal
Of its temple underground.
“Cruel, cruel!” you make answer;
“All it lacks is blood and breath!”
Hush! two sculptors wrought this statue,
And their names are Life and Death.
Comes a day when earth and Heaven
Shall be shaken; then ah! then,
This white statue shall be lifted,
This dead creature live again!
You who love to look on statues,
And the rarest would not miss,
Speak in whispers and step softly
When you come to look at this.
Was there ever whiter marble?
Not a hint of color there,
Save—or is it light from Heaven?—
Golden glints upon the hair.
They who look upon this statue
Must come quickly. Ere the dawn
Of another day shall brighten
Heavy curtains will be drawn
O'er the niche that must receive it:
There, in silence consecrate,
Where no mortal eye can see it,
It will resurrection wait.
Do you say, as you stand weeping,
By its awful power oppressed,
That its place is in the sunlight?
Nay: the statue's name is Rest.
Nothing may disturb its quiet;
Shade on shade will wrap it round:
Peace will guard the heavy portal
Of its temple underground.
“Cruel, cruel!” you make answer;
“All it lacks is blood and breath!”
Hush! two sculptors wrought this statue,
And their names are Life and Death.
Comes a day when earth and Heaven
Shall be shaken; then ah! then,
This white statue shall be lifted,
This dead creature live again!
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