Poems (Brown)/The Unseen Land

by Carrie L. Brown

THE UNSEEN LAND. 

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I would mine eyes could pierce that land
 Where flowers immortal bloom;
Beyond the hastening age of time,
 Beyond the dreadful tomb.

They tell me 'tis a country fair,
 With streets all paved with gold;
And happy angels clothed in white,
 Its wonders new behold.

They tell me 'tis a land of light,
 A land of endless day;
But when I wish to seek the realm,
 Lo! it is far away.

The entrance to this blissful land
 Is through the gate of Death;
His messenger takes us by our hand,
 And chills us with his breath.

And then our day is turned to night;
 Our dream of life is o'er;
And by the "boatman," pale and old,
 We reach that unseen shore.

I would mine earthly eyes could see
 The beauties of that place;
The crystal river flowing clear,
 Past the temple of God's grace.

But it is ordered otherwise;
 And by His hand alone
Can we behold this dazzling place,
 Or sit beside His throne.

"I am the Way, the Truth, the Life:
 For you I suffered death;
For you I wore the thorny crown,
 And yielded up my breath."

Thus he stands, with eyes uplifted,
 Pleading in low tones of love,
Proffering to us heavenly blessings,
 Titles to his home above.

Let us heed his kind entreaties;
 Let us lay our burdens down;
For Christ is waiting to receive us,
 Holding forth a starry crown.