| |
| AFAR the reaches of our land one day, | |
| Grim tidings, visitants of grief confessed, | |
| As wan the sun full orbed had died away | |
| In sky-slopes, crimson sheen caressed— | |
| “Our prince is gone among the blessed.” | 5 |
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| Entwined the olive branch with cypress bough, | |
| Alternate tales of peace and woe shall tell | |
| Unlanguaged glory of a man and how | |
| God’s angels kissed him ere he fell, | |
| And sealed his eyes in slumber’s spell. | 10 |
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| Though Israel’s heart-chords wrung with anguished love, | |
| Now fain his peerless presence would reclaim; | |
| Yet, free from weighing durance here; above | |
| To high emprise he still doth aim, | |
| Shrined Nestor dear of sainted name. | 15 |
| |
| In legend heralded a school on high, | |
| With seraphs’ welcome waits our pilgrim guest; | |
| There, world-famed patriarchs his footfall nigh | |
| Now echoing hear in halls of rest, | |
| His heart to theirs in love is prest. | 20 |
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| Grief’s floodgates pour their unstemmed tide amain, | |
| Our prayers vying throng the stricken skies; | |
| Oh, give us back your sunshine once again! | |
| Undimmed let flash once more your eyes! | |
| Our Father hears not, will not rise! | 25 |
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| The flowers leagued have taken him away, | |
| Wee velvet violets and smilax fair; | |
| They called him at the close of shadowed day, | |
| With amaranths to crown him where | |
| God’s garden greens for e’er and e’er. | 30 |
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| Each day the nursling bud shall weep for him, | |
| Their beaded tears the lucent dew shall be; | |
| When sleep-locked world is dawning ashen dim, | |
| Their fragrance benisons to thee | |
| Shall sweet ascend as off’rings free. | 35 |
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| Come, brethren, Master would not have us grieve, | |
| For sacred joy he loved God’s labor due; | |
| His mansion uninvaded let us leave, | |
| With zeal his mission work anew, | |
| Disciples, Israel’s saving dew! | 40 |
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| Nepenthe mingles with the last farewell, | |
| Oft sunbeams braided are with threads of rain; | |
| The aftermath of grief sweet hope doth tell— | |
| “We’ll meet again, we’ll meet again, | |
| In life that knows no parting pain.” | 45 |
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