Poems (Hale)/"Je ne change qu'en mourant"
"JE NE CHANGE QU'EN MOURANT."
Change but in death? Ah, who shall say,
As each sweet hope of love departs,
That death can ever steal away
Our memory from their severed hearts2
As each sweet hope of love departs,
That death can ever steal away
Our memory from their severed hearts2
Does it not rather set the seal
Of changeless truth upon their love,
And to our loneliness reveal
A sweeter fellowship above?
Of changeless truth upon their love,
And to our loneliness reveal
A sweeter fellowship above?
Change but in death? More precious far
They whom it severs from our eye;
As the pure beaming of the star,
Burns brightest in the midnight sky.
They whom it severs from our eye;
As the pure beaming of the star,
Burns brightest in the midnight sky.
The holiest might of love is given,
Where death has hushed life's broken strings,
And memory o'er the faithful dead,
The light of perfect beauty flings.
Where death has hushed life's broken strings,
And memory o'er the faithful dead,
The light of perfect beauty flings.
Change but in death? It cannot be:
Death cannot dim truth's heavenly ray.
One star of promise we can see,
A prelude of the perfect day.
Death cannot dim truth's heavenly ray.
One star of promise we can see,
A prelude of the perfect day.
It cannot be. Too deeply flows,
Though silent, love's unsullied stream.
Hope o'er its tide her radiance throws,
And Faith sheds forth her holier beam.
Though silent, love's unsullied stream.
Hope o'er its tide her radiance throws,
And Faith sheds forth her holier beam.