Dead he lay among his books! The peace of God was in his looks. As the statues in the gloom Watch o'er Maximilian's tomb, So those volumes from their shelves Watched him, silent as themselves. Ah! his hand will nevermore Turn their storied pages o'er; Nevermore his lips repeat Songs of theirs, however sweet. Let the lifeless body rest! He is gone, who was its guest; Gone, as travellers haste to leave An inn, nor tarry until eve. Traveller! in what realms afar, In what planet, in what star, In what vast, aerial space, Shines the light upon thy face? In what gardens of delight Rest thy weary feet to-night? Poet! thou, whose latest verse Was a garland on thy hearse; Thou hast sung, with organ tone, In Deukalion's life, thine own; On the ruins of the Past Blooms the perfect flower at last. Friend! but yesterday the bells Rang for thee their loud farewells; And to-day they toll for thee, Lying dead beyond the sea; Lying dead among thy books, The peace of God in all thy looks! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEDITATION by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE JOB. THE INSCRUTABLE MYSTERY by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE QUATRAIN: ON READING THE LIFE OF HAROUN ER RESHID by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN ON A LETTER OF MISS FANSHAWE by WILLIAM COWPER CINQUAIN: FATE DEFIED by ADELAIDE CRAPSEY THE BOOKWORM by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE YOUTH by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE MASQUE OF THE MOTHS by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMY, FOR MOST PART ACCORDING TO TREMELIUS: 3 by JOHN DONNE |