Poems (Hornblower)/Verses (Yes, opening life to him was bright)
For works with similar titles, see Verses.
VERSES.
Yes, opening life to him was bright,It wore his own pure spirit's light;In every scene he called forth good,From being's strange vicissitude;That world, to some so cold and dim,Was the clear path to heaven for him.
And life was bright, for round his headThe wreath of spotless fame was spread;And friendship came with smiles to pourHer radiance on Iris youthful hour;And his were joys to which are givenSome faint similitude of heaven.
Wherever want had bowed her head,Was heard his footstep's gentle tread:Where error or where guilt appeared,His mild, rebuking voice was heard;And where the mourner vigil kept,His sympathizing bosom wept.
By all revered, by all beloved,In peace and joy through Life he moved,And that pure spirit found a breastOn which his own in trust might rest;And visions of home-felt delightAround him threw their angel-light.
His cup of earthly joy was full,And life itself was beautiful;But even in that horn- of bliss,Deeper and holier joys were his;And oft he raised his ardent eyes,In faith, to the immortal skies.
The mandate came—in that bright day,It came, and he was called away;From love, from friendship, and from life,He past, nor felt the painful strife;Oh they were dear—but dearer stillTo him was his Creator's will.
The glories which through life had shone,In ev'ry scene to guide him on,Came with then pure, immortal glow,To shine upon his dying brow;And the deep, grateful love he boreHis God, sustained him in that hour.
He past in calmness and in faith,—Oh! are we thus prepared for death;And tranquil could we hear the call,Which asks us to surrender all,And, in the prime of our career,Meet the cold grave without a fear?
Oh! let us humbly turn to HimWhose word can make the bright eye dim,And with a sudden touch, a blight,Chase every feeling of delight—Who, ere one chill night-breeze has past,An early death can o'er us cast.—
To Him, who in that darkest hourStill o'er us spreads his shield of power,In all we fear, and all we prove,Still shrouds us in his arms of love,And makes that last sad season brightWith visions of eternal light!