Lines, Written upon the Death of Two Sisters
What heav’nly music greets mine
ear!
What seraph’s voice is that I hear,
Breathing in numbers soft and low?
Methinks th’ angelic strains I know.
Dearest sister, come away,
There’s nought on earth that’s
worth thy stay;
Then, sister, linger not, but haste
The joys of paradise to taste.
The songs of praise we utter here,
Have ne’er been heard by mortal
ear;
Nor mortal eye hath ever seen
“The fields array’d in living
green.”
The gates of precious stone unfold,
The streets are paved with shining gold;
Pure crystal streams of water flow,
And trees of fadeless verdure grow.
There is no sighing here, nor tears,
No guilty thoughts, no doubts or fears;
But love is pure and never dies,
And songs of endless praise arise.
Then sister, linger not, but come,
Angels await to guard thee home;
Here, in the mansions of the blest,
Here shall thy weary soul find rest.
Sister, I come, thy cheering voice
Bids my whole heart and soul rejoice;
Fain would my ling’ring spirit rise
On wings of Faith beyond the skies.
I linger but a little space,
To gaze upon my husband’s face;
My gentle infant’s lips to press,
And fold my first born to my breast.
My mother’s voice once more to hear,
Once more to see a brother dear,
A sister’s parting kiss receive,
Then, dearest sister, I will leave.
E’en now my clouded senses feel
A heav’nly transport o’er
them steal;
My sight grows dim, thick comes my breath;
Sister, I come, for this is death.