It was a most solemn occasion -- We stood on the brink of a newly-made grave, -- Friends had gathered from near and afar -- The children were all there -- With their children's children, -- The preacher was ill -- three came in his stead -- The choir sang softly and tenderly -- The touch of the pallbearers was so gentle -- Their tread so light -- their manners so reverent. The flowers were -- oh so beautiful -- The space round about -- was filled with their fragrance, -- The white ones attested to her purity -- The green fernery -- to her memory @3ever@1 kept -- The number of offerings -- to her esteem -- And when all together -- a blanket of @3love@1 -- Akin to that something -- That is like Heaven above. The preachers eulogized -- The soul that had gone out to God -- And quoted God's words -- one after another -- To lessen the pain, suffering, and sorrow, -- They said that @3care@1 had all passed away -- That @3she@1 would @3sleep@1, until @3He@1 returned -- He had gone to prepare a place -- For in God's house are many mansions, -- We all felt comforted. But when the gaping grave -- Swallowed up that withered form -- And the @3clods@1 fell in with a @3thud!@1 -- The poignancy of that hour -- Could hardly be appeased, -- Though the preacher read and read -- From God's Holy Book -- His choicest words, -- The @3occasion@1 was the @3saddest@1 of all -- For, today, @3Mother@1 was put away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE JOY OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RIGHTLY ATTENDED by EDWARD TAYLOR THE TEARS OF THE POPLARS by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS I HAVE SEEN by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS TO DR. AIKIN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD CHRISTMASSE DAY by JOSEPH BEAUMONT PSALM 4; AUGUST 10, 1653 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |