Classic Poem

Whilst in breathless repose thou art lying,
Thy words still breathe forth living breath;
To thee but " the shadow of dying, "
On us rests " the shadow of death. "

The barrier changed to a portal,
The glory on thee through hath shined;
Thou hast passed from its shadow, immortal,
And left all the shadows behind.

But on us still the shadow is resting;
The shadow is all we can see;
Earth with heavier darkness investing,
By all the sweet light lost with thee; —

With the mind ever fearlessly moving
To welcome all light from all sides;
With the heart which by force of its loving
Swept all ice-blocks away in its tides;

With that lowliness, gentlest, serenest,
Like a glory around thee which shone,
Who could'st stoop to give love to the meanest,
But stoop to seek honour from none;

With the wide-seeing glance of the sages,
And the glad, simple trust of the child; —
Spirit radiant as e'er through the ages
Loved to drink of the well undefiled!

We count it thy joy to be taken,
Thou countedst it ours to be left;
Still earth's sleep with the Glad News to waken,
Nor quite of thy presence bereft.

In one Church Universal abiding
(No narrower Home e'er was thine),
In one God and Father confiding,
One Lord ever human, divine;

On one Strength, in one service, relying,
Embreathed by one Spirit's life-breath;
In the light of Him living whose dying
Has made but a shadow of death.