Classic Poem

Smile softly, skies! upon the grassy grave;
Angels! about it holy vigils keep;
Where calm reposes, in his dreamless sleep,
The young and manly, generous and brave:
Deck it, ye flowers that tears of love shall lave;
Let faithful hearts full oft beat quicker there;
A glory not of earth the spot shall wear;
For He, the Lord of Life, that died to save,
Of the still sleeper saith — " He is not dead!
Whose believeth, he shall never die! "
The mortal resteth here; the immortal — sped,
Swifter than wings or fleetest thought can fly,
Above yon burning stars — exults to climb
Of Heaven's own life the eternal heights sublime!