Classic Poem

I SAW in heaven the radiant form of one
Who had been mine on earth. Love's pale pure buds
Lay braided on her brow, and her eye shone
With tenderest blue thro' rapture's holy floods.
O'er the wide ether stream'd her shadowy hair,
Encircled with a calm and silvery light;
And the slight veil that rob'd her bosom fair,
Was gently heaving with untold delight.
The purple hue of fadeless youth lay there;
And her cheek beam'd with an immortal bloom;
And with a voice my spirit thrill'd to hear
She spoke—“Thus am I risen from the tomb!
I heard my Saviour's voice, my soul did spring
From the deep slumber of its earthly rest,
Stirring the high air with its glorious wing,
Until it reach'd the mansion of the blest;
And now indeed I live. Above, around,
Roll those deep blessings mortal cannot view;
And heaven's wide arch is ringing with the sound
Of extasy, which human heart ne'er knew
In its sublimest broodings.—Mortal, go
And do his will who form'd this starry sphere;
And thro' the darkest scenes of earthly woe,
His ceaseless mercy will conduct thee here.
But be thou shrined in virtue; for the love
Of God and human kind is blossoming
In these sweet homes of everlasting spring.”
The voice was hush'd; the calm lip ceas'd to move;
The vision vanish'd. Fearless of my doom,
With outstretch'd arms I grasp'd Eternity;
“Not yet,” was softly breath'd, and all was gloom.
The golden gates of heaven were clos'd on me.

I SAW in heaven the radiant form of one
Who had been mine on earth. Love's pale pure buds
Lay braided on her brow, and her eye shone
With tenderest blue thro' rapture's holy floods.
O'er the wide ether stream'd her shadowy hair,
Encircled with a calm and silvery light;
And the slight veil that rob'd her bosom fair,
Was gently heaving with untold delight.
The purple hue of fadeless youth lay there;
And her cheek beam'd with an immortal bloom;
And with a voice my spirit thrill'd to hear
She spoke—“Thus am I risen from the tomb!
I heard my Saviour's voice, my soul did spring
From the deep slumber of its earthly rest,
Stirring the high air with its glorious wing,
Until it reach'd the mansion of the blest;
And now indeed I live. Above, around,
Roll those deep blessings mortal cannot view;
And heaven's wide arch is ringing with the sound
Of extasy, which human heart ne'er knew
In its sublimest broodings.—Mortal, go
And do his will who form'd this starry sphere;
And thro' the darkest scenes of earthly woe,
His ceaseless mercy will conduct thee here.
But be thou shrined in virtue; for the love
Of God and human kind is blossoming
In these sweet homes of everlasting spring.”
The voice was hush'd; the calm lip ceas'd to move;
The vision vanish'd. Fearless of my doom,
With outstretch'd arms I grasp'd Eternity;
“Not yet,” was softly breath'd, and all was gloom.
The golden gates of heaven were clos'd on me.