Poems (King)/Of One Held Dear

Of One Held Dear

WITH all the land aflower
Beneath God's flawless bell of summer blue,
When life was sweetest, fairest,
And full of blessings rarest,
An arrow from Death's quiver flew,
Piercing a loyal heart and true,
In sad, untimely hour.

Now, nevermore,
In Winter's rime or Summer's languorous hum,
Through the long day or starry night, will come
To hearts bereft and sore
The friend whom we deplore.

Now rests that weary brain,
From toil set free and pain;
From willing fingers falls the busy pen;
And ah! forever fled
The soul attuned to mirth
E'en from its birth,—
The charm, the winsome grace
That dwelt in form and face,
And gave them worth.

But mourning hearts, be still,
Naught questioning of Heaven's will;
E'en though on earth not e'er again
She'll weave the matchless verse,
And Mary's praise rehearse,
That Mother-Maid has won a heart's release
For paths of peace.

With smile and tear
Doth pass the pageant of each rolling year;
Gay Spring and golden Summer, soon to fade,
And Autumn in her regal hues arrayed,
Wan Winter clad in stainless snow,—
All these will come and go,
But nevermore her happy glance will know.

Again in budding Spring
The thrush will sing,
The oriole his wooing notes let fall
In plaintive call;
But other ears than hers will list his song,
The river's marge along;
For while sweet Summer flies
And birdsong dies,
She listens to the music of the skies;
Her lonely, longing soul has found its rest
On God's own breast.