When God seemed far and men were near, What daunts thee now? - what shakes thee so? "I see a cloud like a curtain low "Whither I go I cannot tell : That cloud hangs black, High as the heaven and deep as hell Across my track. "I see its shadow coldly enwrap The souls before. Sadly they enter it, step by step, To return no more. 'They shrink, they shudder, dear God! they kneel To thee in prayer. They shut their eyes on the cloud, but feel That it still is there. "In vain they turn from the dread Before To the Known and Gone; For while gazing behind them evermore Their feet glide on. "Yet, at times, I see upon sweet pale faces As if somewhat of awe, but more of love | Fall on the seeming void, and find The rock beneath. "I call on the souls who have left the The Present, the Present is all thou hast Know well, my soul, God's hand controls And in life, in death, in dark and light, Whate'er thou fearest ; Round him in calmest music rolls Whate'er thou hearest. All are in God's care: Sound the black abyss, pierce the deep of night, And he is there! In thoughts which answer to my own, In words which reach my inward ear, Like whispers from the void Unknown, I feel thy living presence here. The waves which lull thy body's rest, The dust thy pilgrim footsteps trod, Unwasted, through each change, attest The fixed economy of God. Shall these poor elements outlive Their gross unconsciousness survive THOU LIVEST, FOLLEN! not in vain |