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Poem
February 5, 1830
Rhode Island American, Statesman And Providence Gazette
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A lamenting poem addressed to a deceased sister, expressing grief over her parting spirit, hope for her continued presence from the afterlife, and vows of prayer at her grave for eternal reunion in realms of light.
Clipping
OCR Quality
75%
Good
Full Text
The Parting Spirit.
Where is the sweet Lethean spell
That once o'er sorrow's source had power,
To bid its tide of passion swell
And cease no more? The charmed hour
Of grief's first burst hath long been o'er,
And yet the grave shall never tell
A tale to bid thy soul forget
Its grief—but oh! we of the grave
Shall never dwell again on earth.
Again on earth—and yet, and yet,
This heart hath still a lingering dream,
A hope that e'en the dead may bless
They die—they die! That spirits breathe
a guardian beam, to soften the living's loneliness.
If so—if from yon realms of light,
Love still may own its mortal birth,
If thou, oh! sister, still art near,
Thou shalt not, sister, pine on earth!
...Daughter where the young bud's dewy fold
Flings hallow'd incense on the air,
Where they once met, who now are cold,
This soul with thine shall mingle there.
Kneel thou beside my lonely grave,
When summer breezes o'er it sweep;
When yon proud orb that gilds the wave
Sinks glorious, to his ocean sleep;
Kneel—and the vow thou breathest there,
At that lone hour shall float on high;
Spirits of light shall bless thy prayer,
The deep, the crown'd, shall greet thy sigh
...Now sorrow's well strange music 'round my heart;
Are these the avenging minstrel's? Still I start
...Still tolls the bell that says my heart must part
...Mysterious powers, the hope, the God, who sent
Creation's depths, thus bid me come resign!
To seek in realms that hymn his praise,
The rapture and eternal name.
Providence.
Thursday, February 4, 1830.
Where is the sweet Lethean spell
That once o'er sorrow's source had power,
To bid its tide of passion swell
And cease no more? The charmed hour
Of grief's first burst hath long been o'er,
And yet the grave shall never tell
A tale to bid thy soul forget
Its grief—but oh! we of the grave
Shall never dwell again on earth.
Again on earth—and yet, and yet,
This heart hath still a lingering dream,
A hope that e'en the dead may bless
They die—they die! That spirits breathe
a guardian beam, to soften the living's loneliness.
If so—if from yon realms of light,
Love still may own its mortal birth,
If thou, oh! sister, still art near,
Thou shalt not, sister, pine on earth!
...Daughter where the young bud's dewy fold
Flings hallow'd incense on the air,
Where they once met, who now are cold,
This soul with thine shall mingle there.
Kneel thou beside my lonely grave,
When summer breezes o'er it sweep;
When yon proud orb that gilds the wave
Sinks glorious, to his ocean sleep;
Kneel—and the vow thou breathest there,
At that lone hour shall float on high;
Spirits of light shall bless thy prayer,
The deep, the crown'd, shall greet thy sigh
...Now sorrow's well strange music 'round my heart;
Are these the avenging minstrel's? Still I start
...Still tolls the bell that says my heart must part
...Mysterious powers, the hope, the God, who sent
Creation's depths, thus bid me come resign!
To seek in realms that hymn his praise,
The rapture and eternal name.
Providence.
Thursday, February 4, 1830.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Parting Spirit
Sister Death
Grave Prayer
Afterlife Hope
Eternal Realms
Lingering Dream
Poem Details
Title
The Parting Spirit.
Subject
Parting Spirit Of A Sister
Key Lines
Where Is The Sweet Lethean Spell / That Once O'er Sorrow's Source Had Power,
If Thou, Oh! Sister, Still Art Near, / Thou Shalt Not, Sister, Pine On Earth!
Kneel Thou Beside My Lonely Grave, / When Summer Breezes O'er It Sweep;
They Die—They Die! That Spirits Breathe / A Guardian Beam, To Soften The Living's Loneliness.