Civilian & Telegraph

THERE IS NO DEATH.

There is no death ! The stars go down

To rise upon some fairer shore;

And bright in Heaven's jeweled crown

They shine forever more.

There is no death ! The dust we tread -

Shall change beneath the summer showers

To golden grain or mellow fruit,

Or rainbow tinted flowers.

The granite rocks disorganize

To feed the hungry moss they bear;

The forest leaves drink daily life

From out the viewless air.

There is no death ! The leaves may fall,

The flowers may fade and pass away-

They only wait through wintry hours

The coming of the May.

There is no death ! An angel form

Walks o'er the earth with silent tread-

He bears our best loved things away,

And then we call them "dead."

He sets our heart's all desolate--

He plucks our fairest, sweetest flower:

Transported into bliss, they now

Adorn immortal bowers.

The bird-like voice whose joyous tones

Made glad this scene of sin and strife.

Sing now in everlasting song

Amid the tree of life

And where he sees a smile too bright,

Or hearts too pure or eyes too intent and vice.

He bears it to that world of light

To dwell in Paradise.

Born into that undying life

They leave us but to come again;

With joy we welcome them--the same,

Except in sin and pain.

And ever near us though unseen,

The dear immortal spirits tread;

For all the boundless Universe

Is Life--there are no dead.