Poems (Sharpless)/A Vigil
For works with similar titles, see A Vigil.
A VIGIL
One night while keeping watch o'er the sleeping, While Death's cold Presence loomed dark above,She, gently coming, like shades at gloaming, Brought comfort to me, she whom I love.
Tho' Death has claimed her, Love still retained her; When I wept no Heaven could hold her then;But angels leaving, to soothe my grieving, She came, love-lighted, to earth again.
No word was spoken, the hush, unbroken, Fell o'er the head where the fever throbbed;But her look of gladness softened my sadness, I sighed more gently where erst I sobbed.
If such joy be given, like hers, in Heaven, 'Tis smiles for weeping, 'tis life for Death;With joy, not grieving, we should be leaving The graves that holdeth our loves beneath.
So thro' the dreariness I felt her nearness, I felt the Peace she had brought from Heaven;And, bowing slowly to spell so holy, I yielded fully what He had given.
Oh! early taken! I felt forsaken When God thus called thee, "Sweet, come above";Yet in that vision I know thy mission Stretched far beyond my blind human love.