Thou cam'st — what pleasures new and bright Thy coming gave! Thou'rt gone — and every young delight Is laid in thy dark grave! THERE is a spot — 't is holy ground To those who weep, Where, hushed beneath each lonely mound, Death's mouldering victims sleep. Friend, sister, brother, there are laid, From sorrows free; And there a clay-cold bed is made For thee, Sweet Boy! for thee. Those little hands thou'lt raise no more To meet my arms; Thou'rt gone! the bitter wind passed o'er, And withered all thy charms. Forever gone life's active spark, The blood's warm thrill; Thy bright blue eyes are closed and dark, Thy merry laugh is still. I've sate me by thy cradle's side, And joyed to trace, Blind fool! with all a father's pride, Thy future earthly race. Fancy beheld thee good and wise, Honor's proud theme, Truth's sturdy prop, Fame's noble prize — But O, 't was all a dream. There came an hour — with me 't will live Till life depart; Time's vaunted skill no balm can give, Remembrance wrings my heart. 'T was when I watched, with curdling blood, Each stifled breath; 'T was when on that pale forehead stood The boding damp of death. 'T was when the tyrant's grasp, so cold, Chilled life's young tide; 'T was when those eyes that last glance rolled — 'T was when my poor boy died. The sigh will rise, in manhood's spite, The tears will roll; Grief round me draws her mental night, And desolates my soul. Yet let my stricken heart be taught That thou'rt in peace; That lesson, with true wisdom fraught, Should bid each anguish cease. If there's a refuge-place at last, For man t' enjoy, There may I meet, earth's trials past, My Charles, my cherub boy! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DILIGENCE IS TO MAGIC AS PROGRESS IS TO FLIGHT by MARIANNE MOORE LAURA SLEEPING; ODE by CHARLES COTTON HYSTERIA by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT THE PEACE: TO HEAVEN ON A BEETLE by ARISTOPHANES TO AN INDEPENDENT PREACHER by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE STEAM-ENGINE: CANTO 10. THE DEATH OF HUSKISSON by T. BAKER LEGEND OF HAMILTON TIGHE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 41. TO THE 'UNKNOWABLE' GOD by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |