Lines on the Old Danvers Burying Ground
Above the ancient Burying place
Looks calmly down the full-orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
And through the cold, transparent air,
The stars and planets brightly glow;
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dwellers on this sphere below.
And is there not some secret tie,
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Which lifts the sorrowing soul on high,
Above this lowly vale of tears?
There is. For gazing on this spot
My tearful eyes are upward turned,
And mortal feelings are forgot,
A higher lesson I have learned.
For He who formed the wondrous whole,
And doth each planet's motions guide;
Will clothe again the immortal soul,
And for his children still provide.
For as the earthly form we wear,
The fading emblem of decay;
The heavenly image we shall share,
Which fadeth not, like that, away.
All live to God! Though earth may hide
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
Above the ancient burying place
Looks calmly down the full orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
And through the cold, transparent air,
The stars and planets brightly glow,
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dweller on this sphere below.
And is there not some secret spell,
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Of the Immortal Life to tell
Beyond Time's few and fleeting years?
There is; for though no voice nor speech
May reach the mourner's listening ear,
The Resurrection's truth they teach,
By revelation's words made clear.
That though the mortal body die,
A nobler, fairer, shall succeed;
As stars in differing glory vie,
As springs the stalk from buried seed.
That as the earthly now we wear,
Subject to suffering, change, decay;
The heavenly image we shall bear,
That fadeth not, like that, away.
There is no death in scene like this,
Though mortal forms repose around;
My thoughts mount upward to the bliss
The immortal soul with God has found.
All live to Him! Though earth may hide
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
Looks calmly down the full-orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
And through the cold, transparent air,
The stars and planets brightly glow;
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dwellers on this sphere below.
And is there not some secret tie,
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Which lifts the sorrowing soul on high,
Above this lowly vale of tears?
There is. For gazing on this spot
My tearful eyes are upward turned,
And mortal feelings are forgot,
A higher lesson I have learned.
For He who formed the wondrous whole,
And doth each planet's motions guide;
Will clothe again the immortal soul,
And for his children still provide.
For as the earthly form we wear,
The fading emblem of decay;
The heavenly image we shall share,
Which fadeth not, like that, away.
All live to God! Though earth may hide
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
Above the ancient burying place
Looks calmly down the full orbed moon;
Each well known grave I plainly trace,
As in the effulgent light of noon.
And through the cold, transparent air,
The stars and planets brightly glow,
As if they listened to the prayer
Of dweller on this sphere below.
And is there not some secret spell,
Some influence from yon shining spheres;
Of the Immortal Life to tell
Beyond Time's few and fleeting years?
There is; for though no voice nor speech
May reach the mourner's listening ear,
The Resurrection's truth they teach,
By revelation's words made clear.
That though the mortal body die,
A nobler, fairer, shall succeed;
As stars in differing glory vie,
As springs the stalk from buried seed.
That as the earthly now we wear,
Subject to suffering, change, decay;
The heavenly image we shall bear,
That fadeth not, like that, away.
There is no death in scene like this,
Though mortal forms repose around;
My thoughts mount upward to the bliss
The immortal soul with God has found.
All live to Him! Though earth may hide
The forms of loved ones from our sight;
Our friends still live, with Him abide,
Who on the grave sheds holy light.
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