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Poem
May 15, 1838
Rutland Herald
Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A devotional poem by Bishop Heber meditating on the constant threat of death in life, from youth to old age, and exhorting mortals to heed the warning of the grave and Christians to contemplate eternal salvation or damnation.
Merged-components note: Section title introduces the following poem, forming a single logical poetry component.
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OCR Quality
90%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE
BY BISHOP HEBER
Beneath our feet, and o'er our head,
Unequal warning given:
Beneath are all the countless dead,
Above us is the heaven.
Death rides on every passing breeze,
He lurks in every flower;
Each season has its own disease,
Its peril, every hour.
Our eyes have seen the rosy light
Of youth's fresh cheek decay;
And Fate descend in sudden night
On manhood's middle day.
Our eyes have seen the steps of age
That totter towards the tomb,
And yet shall earth our hearts engage,
And dream of days to come.
Turn, mortal, turn! thy danger know,
Where'er thy foot can tread;
The earth rings hollow from below,
And warns thee of her dead!
Turn, Christian, turn! thy soul apply
To truths divinely given;
The bones that underneath thee lie,
Shall live for hell or heaven.
UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE
BY BISHOP HEBER
Beneath our feet, and o'er our head,
Unequal warning given:
Beneath are all the countless dead,
Above us is the heaven.
Death rides on every passing breeze,
He lurks in every flower;
Each season has its own disease,
Its peril, every hour.
Our eyes have seen the rosy light
Of youth's fresh cheek decay;
And Fate descend in sudden night
On manhood's middle day.
Our eyes have seen the steps of age
That totter towards the tomb,
And yet shall earth our hearts engage,
And dream of days to come.
Turn, mortal, turn! thy danger know,
Where'er thy foot can tread;
The earth rings hollow from below,
And warns thee of her dead!
Turn, Christian, turn! thy soul apply
To truths divinely given;
The bones that underneath thee lie,
Shall live for hell or heaven.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Uncertainty Life
Death Peril
Mortality Warning
Christian Faith
Bishop Heber
What entities or persons were involved?
By Bishop Heber
Poem Details
Title
Uncertainty Of Life
Author
By Bishop Heber
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Turn, Mortal, Turn! Thy Danger Know,
Where'er Thy Foot Can Tread;
The Earth Rings Hollow From Below,
And Warns Thee Of Her Dead!
Turn, Christian, Turn! Thy Soul Apply
To Truths Divinely Given;
The Bones That Underneath Thee Lie,
Shall Live For Hell Or Heaven.