Poems (Smith)/The Departed One
Appearance
THE DEPARTED ONE.
Only one short year has passed and fled,
Forever that sweet face of thine,
Pillowed so oft upon my breast, now dead!
God willed it so,—why should I repine?
'Tis hard to tear my soul apart from thine,
For I had dreamed sweet dreams of thee;
How can I lose thee and forever resign
All in this life so dear to me.
For I had dreamed sweet dreams of thee;
How can I lose thee and forever resign
All in this life so dear to me.
'Tis the will of God to suffer here below;
To love and lose all that is dear,
Then struggle on in sadness here and woe,
To make our way to Heaven more clear.
To love and lose all that is dear,
Then struggle on in sadness here and woe,
To make our way to Heaven more clear.
I feel thy power when sorrow ever
Comes to me with withering blight;
Thy remembrance leads my mind forever
To thy heavenly home beyond my sight.
Comes to me with withering blight;
Thy remembrance leads my mind forever
To thy heavenly home beyond my sight.
Oft in whispers thy sweet voice above
The cooling breeze of twilight hour I feel,
And hear thy whispered vows of love,
And fancy my arms around thee steal.
The cooling breeze of twilight hour I feel,
And hear thy whispered vows of love,
And fancy my arms around thee steal.
But those happy days have forever passed,
I feel what I have loved and lost;
And long to lay me down and be at rest,
Nor longer here upon life's billows toss'd.
I feel what I have loved and lost;
And long to lay me down and be at rest,
Nor longer here upon life's billows toss'd.
This little grassy mound holds all I love;
Oft I strew fresh flowers upon thy grave;
While thy sweet and pure spirit from above
Will ever watch o'er my soul and save
Oft I strew fresh flowers upon thy grave;
While thy sweet and pure spirit from above
Will ever watch o'er my soul and save
From dark despair, and gently lead
Your love left only a little while behind
To watch and pray, hoping some day indeed
To mingle in beautiful spirit-love divine.
Your love left only a little while behind
To watch and pray, hoping some day indeed
To mingle in beautiful spirit-love divine.
The joys and pleasures of this earthly life
No more can fill my soul with love:
In the grave they're buried with my wife,
Till we re-unite in Heaven above.
No more can fill my soul with love:
In the grave they're buried with my wife,
Till we re-unite in Heaven above.