BEYOND.

Hangs stormed with stars the night,

Deep over deep,

A majesty, a might,

To feel and keep.

Ah! what is such and such,

Love, canst thou tell?

That shrinks — though‘ tis not much —

To weep farewell.

That hates the dawn and lark;

Would have the wail,—

Sobbed through the ceaseless dark,—

O’ the nightingale.

Yes, earth, thy life were worth

Not much to me,

Were there not after earth

Eternity.

God gave thee life to keep —

And what hath life?—

Love, faith, and care, and sleep

Where dreams are rife.

Death's sleep, whose shadows start

The tears in eyes

Of love, that fill the heart

That breaks and dies.

And faith is never given

Without some care,

That leadeth us to heaven

By ways of prayer.

The nightingale and dark

Are thine then here;

Beyond, the light and lark

Eternal there.