Classic Poem

Once more I lay Love's offering on thy grave,
Dear friend and true!
With longing heart thine unforgotten smile
Once more to view.

How ached our torn hearts as we laid thee down
Upon that autumn day,
When all the brightness of that hour was dimmed,
For thou hadst passed away!

All through the weary months that followed on,
Still have we mourned
Our loss in thy departure, friend beloved!
Now glory-crowned.

But oft sweet-whispers to our spirits come
From that bright shore
Where thou art resting, and we hope anew
To greet once more.

Sweet friend! we'll cherish in our heart of hearts
Thy virtues rare,
And pray that in thy meek, quiet, gentle ways,
We all may share.

And that the mantle of thy spirit rest
On those who tread,
Humbly and rev'rently, where thou didst walk
In years now fled.

Rest, precious dust! in consecrated ground.
The soul hath soared
We know, and through those weary, vanished months
Hath God adored,

Where angels bow with harps to love attuned,
And souls like thine
Grow beauteous in Love's light, yet more and more
And more divine.

But the dear lips our love once gladly pressed
Lie buried here;
The hand that clasped our own in friendship's grasp,
The soft, dark hair.

And o'er this grave we must in sadness bend,
Till our turn come
To reach that land where tombstones never rise,
Thy new, bright home.