Poems (Jones)/Death in the Forest
DDIE had folded his dimpled hands,
(Never so quiet heretofore! )
Shadows were dark through forest-lands,
Birds went mourning about the door:
But Eddie was still—ah stillness dread,
Through which the rustle of boughs they heard!
"He was done with life," so the neighbors said,
And the mother answered not a word.
DEATH IN THE FOREST.
DDIE had folded his dimpled hands,(Never so quiet heretofore! )
Shadows were dark through forest-lands,
Birds went mourning about the door:
But Eddie was still—ah stillness dread,
Through which the rustle of boughs they heard!
"He was done with life," so the neighbors said,
And the mother answered not a word.
Eddie had closed his dying eyes—
They looked when the last faint breath should fail;
But the eyelids thrilled with a sweet surprise,
And a flush ran over his forehead pale.
They saw the glory of Heaven flow
Down on the face so pure and meek;
And oh, the smile—like a flower on snow—
That sank through the curves of his pallid cheek!
They looked when the last faint breath should fail;
But the eyelids thrilled with a sweet surprise,
And a flush ran over his forehead pale.
They saw the glory of Heaven flow
Down on the face so pure and meek;
And oh, the smile—like a flower on snow—
That sank through the curves of his pallid cheek!
"Eddie was done with life," they said,
So they robed in white the beautiful clay;
They veiled their eyes, for the child was dead,
And sighing and sobbing, went their way.
But say it had chanced they wore no veils,
Methinks when the coffin slid below,
They had seen their boy through the forest-dales,
With just that smile—like a flower on snow!
So they robed in white the beautiful clay;
They veiled their eyes, for the child was dead,
And sighing and sobbing, went their way.
But say it had chanced they wore no veils,
Methinks when the coffin slid below,
They had seen their boy through the forest-dales,
With just that smile—like a flower on snow!