Poems (Emma M. Ballard Bell)/The Ocean Burial
THE OCEAN BURIAL.
It was midnight on the sea,
And a tempest raged around,
While the billows wild and free,
With a rushing, roaring sound,
Dashed against a noble bark,
As it plowed its way along
Through the treach'rous waves so dark,
In their midnight drap'ry hung.
And a tempest raged around,
While the billows wild and free,
With a rushing, roaring sound,
Dashed against a noble bark,
As it plowed its way along
Through the treach'rous waves so dark,
In their midnight drap'ry hung.
Yes, 'twas midnight on the main,
Midnight solemn, dark, and drear;
By the lonely couch of pain
Sat a mother, pale with fear.
But the storm she heeded not
That without was raging wild;
All its terrors were forgot
While she watched her dying child.
Midnight solemn, dark, and drear;
By the lonely couch of pain
Sat a mother, pale with fear.
But the storm she heeded not
That without was raging wild;
All its terrors were forgot
While she watched her dying child.
"Mother," said the dying one,
In sweet accents low but clear,
"Tell me, is my life's work done?
Tell me, for I do not fear."
Then the mother gently bent
O'er the couch with tearful eye;
And the maiden seemed content
When she told her she must die.
In sweet accents low but clear,
"Tell me, is my life's work done?
Tell me, for I do not fear."
Then the mother gently bent
O'er the couch with tearful eye;
And the maiden seemed content
When she told her she must die.
"Mother, I had thought my tomb
Near our own loved home should be;
Where the violets would bloom
In their beauty over me.
Now I hear my Father call
From his mansions in the sky,
And I care not what befall,—
Care not though I here must die.
Near our own loved home should be;
Where the violets would bloom
In their beauty over me.
Now I hear my Father call
From his mansions in the sky,
And I care not what befall,—
Care not though I here must die.
"So when my cold form they lay
'Neath the ocean wave to rest,
Let not one regret, I pray,
Find a place within thy breast.
Angel eyes are watching me,
Angel music greets my ear
Jesus, He will comfort thee;
Death's dark vale I do not fear.
'Neath the ocean wave to rest,
Let not one regret, I pray,
Find a place within thy breast.
Angel eyes are watching me,
Angel music greets my ear
Jesus, He will comfort thee;
Death's dark vale I do not fear.
"No, oh, no! e'en though the sea
O'er this cold, frail form may foam,
From all care and sorrow free,
I shall rest secure at home."
While the mother watched her child,
Came the messenger of Death;
Closed the maiden's blue eye mild,
Breathed on her his icy breath.
O'er this cold, frail form may foam,
From all care and sorrow free,
I shall rest secure at home."
While the mother watched her child,
Came the messenger of Death;
Closed the maiden's blue eye mild,
Breathed on her his icy breath.
Morning dawned, and all was still;
For the storm had died away,
Subject to His all-wise will,
Whom the winds and sea obey.
For the mother's heart-felt grief,
Yielding almost to despair,
Earth afforded no relief;
This she found at last in prayer.
For the storm had died away,
Subject to His all-wise will,
Whom the winds and sea obey.
For the mother's heart-felt grief,
Yielding almost to despair,
Earth afforded no relief;
This she found at last in prayer.
Ere another night had fled
Slept the maiden in her grave,—
Slept with the unnumbered dead,
'Neath the ocean's briny wave.
Slept the maiden in her grave,—
Slept with the unnumbered dead,
'Neath the ocean's briny wave.
Oh! thou great and mighty deep,
Holding in thy caverns strong
Loved ones, for whom many weep,
And have wept for, oh! so long;
There shall come a time when thou
In thy majesty sublime,
Though reluctantly, shalt bow
To the stern decree of time.
Holding in thy caverns strong
Loved ones, for whom many weep,
And have wept for, oh! so long;
There shall come a time when thou
In thy majesty sublime,
Though reluctantly, shalt bow
To the stern decree of time.
Then, when from Jehovah's eye
Guilty hearts would fain have fled,
Thou shalt hear the angel's cry,—
"Let the sea give up its dead."
Guilty hearts would fain have fled,
Thou shalt hear the angel's cry,—
"Let the sea give up its dead."