Poems (Greenwell)/The Soul's Parting
THE SOUL'S PARTING.
She sat within Life's Banquet Hall at noon, When word was brought unto her secretly: "The Master cometh onwards quickly; soon Across the Threshold He will call for thee." Then she rose up to meet Him at the Door, But turning, courteous, made a farewell brief To those that sat around. From Care and Grief She parted first: "Companions sworn and true Have ye been ever to me, but for Friends I knew ye not till later, and did miss Much solace through that error; let this kiss, Late known and prized, be taken for amends. Thou, too, kind, constant Patience, with thy slow, Sweet counsels aiding me, I did not know That ye were angels, until ye displayed Your wings for flight: now bless me!" but they said, "We blest thee long ago."
Then turning unto twainThat stood together, tenderly and oft She kissed them on their foreheads, whispering soft: "Now must we part; yet leave me not beforeYe see me enter safe within the Door;Kind bosom-comforters, that by my sideThe darkest hour found ever closest bide,A dark hour waits me, ere for evermoreNight with its heaviness be overpast;Stay with me till I cross the Threshold o'er."So Faith and Hope stayed by her till the last.
But giving both her handsTo one that stood the nearest: "Thou and IMay pass together; for the holy bandsGod knits on earth are never loosed on high.Long have I walked with Thee; thy name aroseE'en in my sleep, and sweeter than the closeOf music was thy voice; for thou wert sentTo lead me homewards from my banishmentBy devious ways, and never hath my heartSwerved from Thee, though our hands were wrung apartBy spirits sworn to sever us; aboveSoon shall I look upon Thee as Thou art,"So she cross'd o'er with Love.