Landon in The Literary Gazette 1821/Stanzas On the Death of Miss Campbell
Literary Gazette, 22nd September, 1821, Pages 602
STANZAS
On the Death of Miss Campbell.
Rose of our love, how soon thou art faded,
The blight has past over thy April bloom,
Where are the hopes that dwelt on thee, all shaded,
The hearts which they brightened are dark as thy tomb.
We saw thee with youth, health, and happiness glowing,
We saw thee again, but health was no more,
Sadness was round thee, and warm tears were flowing,
O'er the wan cheek whose bloom their dew could not restore.
Still on thy face, while others wept round thee,
Was the look that would soothe, the smile that would cheer,
Each hour loosed the chain, that unto this life bound thee,
And each hour we found thee more dear, and more dear.
Where art thou now, in the silent grave sleeping,
Cold, long and dark this last slumber will be;
Wild o'er thy sod, thy pale mother is weeping,
The joy of her life has departed with thee.
Fare thee well, tho' we mourn o'er the promising blossom,
Sadly and fondly its memory enshrine;
Was it not better to part with a bosom
So free from earth's taints and earth's sorrow's as thine.
Was it not better to part with thy spirit,
All piety, purity, patience, and love?—
Will not the meek and the gentle inherit
A crown of life fadeless and holy above?
L. E. L.