Poems (Holmes)/To a Dying Brother

by Alice Ann Holmes

To a Dying Brother.

Oh, farewell, brother! Thou art passing
 From a circle thou hast blessed,
To that bright world where saints are waiting
 To receive thee as their guest.
Angels now are hovering round thee,
 To conduct thy spirit there,
When death shall of thy pain relieve thee,
 Which thou dost with patience bear.

Oh, farewell, brother! Thou art dearer
 Than aught else our bosoms know,
Save our kind father and our mother,
 Who with us lament thee now.
Oh! if a while thou couldst but linger,
 To relieve its stricken heart
Of the deep grief that now pervades them,
 As they see thy strength depart.

Oh, farewell, brother! Christ is calling
 In a voice that charms thine ear,
And to Him is thy spirit soaring,
 'Though we strive to keep it here.
And now from us fades that bright pure light
 That marked thy mild, gentle eye,
And hushed in death is thy kind, sweet voice,
 Full of loving sympathy.

Oh, farewell, brother! Thou hast passed
 Through death's dark and gloomy vale;
Thy cares and sorrows now are ended,
 Though thy loss we deeply wail;
For we shall no more thy footsteps hear,
 And no more behold thy smile,
No more receive thy fond embrace,
 Oh! no more thy hours beguile.

But, farewell, brother! We resign thee
 To our heavenly Father's care;
He in glory will receive thee—
 Oh! may we all meet there.
Still in our memories thou shalt dwell,
 Though thy form no more we see,
And the deep love which thou hast borne us
 Shall a source of comfort be.