Poems (Procter)/Rest

by Adelaide Anne Procter

For works with similar titles, see Rest.

REST.

PREAD, spread thy silver wings, O Dove!And seek for rest by land and sea,And bring the tidings back to meFor thee and me and those I love.  Look how my Dove soars far away;  Go with her, heart of mine, I pray;  Go where her fluttering silver pinions  Follow the track of the crimson day.

Is rest where cloudlets slowly creep,And sobbing winds forget to grieve,And quiet waters gently heave,As if they rocked the ship to sleep?  Ah no! that southern vapor white  Will bring a tempest ere the night,  And thunder through the quiet heaven,  Lashing the sea in its angry might.

The battle-field lies still and cold,While stars that watch in silent lightGleam here and there on weapons bright,In weary sleepers' slackened hold;  Nay, though they dream of no alarm,  One bugle sound will stir that calm,  And all the strength of two great nations,  Eager for battle, will rise and arm.

Pause where the Pilgrims' day is done,Where scrip and staff aside are laid,And, resting in the silent shade,They watch the slowly sinking sun.  Ah no! that worn and weary band  Must journey long before they stand,  With bleeding feet, and hearts rejoicing,  Kissing the dust of the Holy Land.

Then find a soul who meets at lastA noble prize but hard to gain,Or joy long pleaded for in vain,Now sweeter for a bitter past.  Ah no! for Time can rob her yet,  And even should cruel Time forget,  Then Death will come, and, unrelenting,  Brand her with sorrowful long regret.

Seek farther, farther yet, O Dove!Beyond the Land, beyond the Sea,There shall be rest for thee and me,For thee and me and those I love.  I heard a promise gently fall,  I heard a far-off Shepherd call  The weary and the broken-hearted,  Promising rest unto each and all.

It is not marred by outward strife,It is not lost in calm repose,It heedeth neither joys nor woes,Is not disturbed by death or life;  Through, and beyond them, lies our Rest:  Then cease, O Heart, thy longing quest!  And thou, my Dove, with silver pinions  Flutter again to thy quiet nest!