Poems (Denver)/Where dost thou dwell?

by Mary Caroline Denver and Jane Campbell Denver

WHERE DOST THOU DWELL?

  Where is thy dwelling now,
O! long lamented?—dost thou hover round,
Clad in an angel's garb, or is thy brow
  With the death-garland bound?

  Lo! spirit, 'tis on thee,
That I would call—on thee, that livest yet.
Changeless, eternal as eternity;
  Thy sun can never set.

  Yet speak! where hast thou flown;
Which of the "many mansions" that are found,
Within the Father's house, is now thine own,
  O thou! tho victor crowned?

  Down 'midst the snowy pearls
That light the gorgeous caverns deep,
Whilst far above the circling eddy curls,
  Dost thou thy watches keep?

  Or from the stars that light
The everlasting hills, dost thou appear,
To guard us in the dreamy hours of night,
  And our lone slumbers cheer?

  Dwell'st thou upon the earth,
Where the rose blooms, or where bright waters flow,
Where all things beautiful look up in mirth?
  Stern reason answers, "No."

  Thou art in heaven above,
Hymning the ransomed spirit's song of bliss;
Ah! who would call thee from that home of love,
  To a bleak world like this?