Poems (Jackson)/Release
For works with similar titles, see Release.
F one had watched a prisoner many a year,Standing behind a barrèd window-pane,Fettered with heavy handcuff and with chain,And gazing on the blue sky, far and clear;And suddenly some morning he should hearThe man had in the night contrived to gainHis freedom and was safe, would this bring pain?Ah! would it not to dullest heart appearGood tidings?Yesterday I looked on oneWho lay as if asleep in perfect peace.His long imprisonment for life was done.Eternity's great freedom his releaseHad brought. Yet they who loved him called him dead,And wept, refusing to be comforted.
RELEASE.
F one had watched a prisoner many a year,Standing behind a barrèd window-pane,Fettered with heavy handcuff and with chain,And gazing on the blue sky, far and clear;And suddenly some morning he should hearThe man had in the night contrived to gainHis freedom and was safe, would this bring pain?Ah! would it not to dullest heart appearGood tidings?Yesterday I looked on oneWho lay as if asleep in perfect peace.His long imprisonment for life was done.Eternity's great freedom his releaseHad brought. Yet they who loved him called him dead,And wept, refusing to be comforted.