Madame Clara de Chatelain.
by William Alfred Gibbs.
Originally published in The Poet's Magazine (Leonard Lloyd) vol.1 #4 (Dec 1876).
Brave fellow pilgrim to the unknown shrine,
Towards which, through life's strange paths, we all are going,
Mourn not, for lo! that destiny divine,
Is reached by her for whom thy tears are flowing.
Mourn not for her whose powers, nobly wielded,
Fought the good fight, and oft by heaven were blest;
Only the body to the soul hath yielded:
The fight is over, she hath won her rest.
What though that rest may last for years unnumbered,
We also shall enjoy such sleep profourd;
'Twill seem but for one night that we have slumbered,
'Twill seem but the next morning coming round.
Upraise the eyes from griefs and joys so fleeting,
And as earth darkens hail the rising star!
Forget the parting in the hoped for meeting,
Think what we shall be—not on what we are.