Flesh of our flesh -- bone of our bone -- (For thou and we in Christ are one) Thy soul unto its rest hath flown, And thou has left us all alone Our weary race to run In doubt, and want, and sin, and pain, Whilst thou wilt never sin again. For us remaineth heaviness; Thou never more shalt feel distress, For thou hast found repose Beside the bright eternal river That clear and pure flows on for ever, And sings as on it flows. And it is better far for thee To reach at once thy rest, Than share with us earth's misery, Or tainted joy at best; Brother, we will not mourn for thee, Although our hearts be weary Of struggling with our enemy, When all around is dreary. But we will pray that still we may Press onward in the narrow way With a calm thankful resignation, And joy in this our desolation. And we will hope at length to be With our Great Head, and, friend! with thee Beside that river blest. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL RELIGIONS ARE ONE by WILLIAM BLAKE TRUE UNTIL DEATH by ROBERT BURNS DEJECTION: AN ODE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE WINTER EVENING by ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN FRAGMENTS OF A LOST GNOSTIC POEM OF THE 12TH CENTURY by HERMAN MELVILLE |