| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | December 27 | | To the Sister of “Elia” | | By Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) |
| | | | Mary Ann Lamb, sister of Charles and the object of his life-long devotion. |
|
|
COMFORT thee, O thou mourner, yet awhile! | |
| Again shall Elia’s smile | |
| Refresh thy heart, where heart can ache no more. | |
| What is it we deplore? | |
| |
| He leaves behind him, freed from griefs and years, | 5 |
| Far worthier things than tears. | |
| The love of friends without a single foe: | |
| Unequalled lot below! | |
| |
| His gentle soul, his genius, these are thine; | |
| For these dost thou repine? | 10 |
| He may have left the lowly walks of men; | |
| Left them he has; what then? | |
| |
| Are not his footsteps followed by the eyes | |
| Of all the good and wise? | |
| Tho’ the warm day is over, yet they seek | 15 |
| Upon the lofty peak | |
| |
| Of his pure mind the roseate light that glows | |
| O’er death’s perennial snows. | |
| Behold him! from the region of the blest | |
| He speaks: he bids thee rest. | 20 | | |
|
|
|
