Poems (Chitwood)/Lillia and Mary

by Mary Louisa Chitwood

LILLIA AND MARY.

Fair troops of shining angels
 On drooping wings are placed,
Upon the Parian marble
 Where Lillia's name is traced.
But on a mossy headstone,
 You read our Mary's name;
And but a rose tree o'er her,
 Drops leaves of sunset flame.

One sleeps in costly satin;
 And 'round her raven hair
Are pearls of rarest splendor,
 Amid the darkness there.
But Mary's robe of muslin
 Lies softly 'neath her hands;
And, unadorned, her tresses
 Fall in long golden bands.

Fair Lillia sleeps in silence
 Amid the city's walls,
And through the white dust rising,
 The sunlight dimly falls.
But softly, sweetly, silent,
 Is Mary's peaceful rest,—
You can almost hear the alders
 Drop blooms upon her breast.

A mourner, proud and stately,
 Bends over Lillia's clay;
You can hear the rich robes rustle
 As sad she moves away.
But over little Mary,
 A child with bronzed cheek
Kneels every morn and even',
 With resignation meek.

Two little children sleeping,
 Whatever storms may blow;
One dwelt amid the splendor
 Of luxury below;
The other, on the greensward,
 Moved o'er the velvet leaves;
And slept amid the flowers,
 "Like birds beneath the caves."

Two happy little children,
 Christ's blessing on their brow;
On earth they had no meeting,
 But they are sisters now!
They know and love each other,
 In the celestial land;
Their lips one song are trilling,
 As stand they hand in hand.