Faces of the Dead

I dreamed that, wandering by a river's bank,

I came across a lonely ship that sank

In lifeless waters. Day was dim;— in dreams

We see nor sun, nor moon; unearthly gleams

Of deadened light fall strangely from the sky.—

There were but three that struggled not to die:

A man, a woman, and a tender child;

He sought to save them both with effort wild

And dragged his love to the entangled shore;

But down the slimy weeds she slid once more

Into the water, and her lover's breast

Received her, and together they found rest.

The child was saved; my hand towards her hand

Outstretched, drew all her sweetness to the land,

Where naked, like a lily wet with rain,

She sank and loudly wept at her life's gain.

Quite small she was, and light; I bore her fast

To what seemed home, and there she smiled at last

And sat upright within my arms; I found

A bright-hued veil wherein to wrap her round,

Tissues that far in morning-lands were spun

By those who love the flowers and the sun.

I laid her softly in a silken bed,

Strewed fragrant violets about her head

And left her.

‘ Twas my dream then that I slept.

But when at dawn unto her bed I crept,

The child was lost. Her pillow was all wet

With tears that still flowed on; and faster yet

They flowed in quickening rills, until I thought

I stood beside a torrent wide that sought

An unknown sea. The day was sad, tho’ young;

Upon a misty branch some bird had sung

And left a trembling silence; all around

I saw the little daisies on the ground

Fast closed, with folded arm-petals in vain

Shielding their yellow hearts from the cold rain.

— A voice invisible made murmur then:

‘ Come here and look upon these poor drowned men!

The ship was sunk a year ago to-day....’

But I stepped back and shuddering turned away,

For I had never seen the face of Death.

Yet Fear itself soon drew me with quick breath

Back to the place, even to the river's brink

Where I had seen that lonely vessel sink.

And there in waters deep I saw them lie,

With hands at rest and eyes that sought the sky:

Clear eyes wide open to an unseen day.

In wondrous silence motionless they lay,

With white lips smiling on their spirit's bliss.

‘ Is Death but this?’ I cried,‘ no more but this?’

And answer came:‘ Among those faces there

Are all unknown?’

‘ Twas then I saw him, fair

With perfect peace, my enemy, even he

Of all the world who most had tortured me.

He lay there, blessed among the blessed, and smiled

With eyes more pure than any wakening child.

The little waves in passing — like the breeze

That stirs the foliage of the unmoved trees —

Played in their hair, and fluttering grasses rose

And fell and danced about their mute repose.

But I gazed on until I too had drunk

Of their lips’ joy, until their peace had sunk

Into my troubling earth-stirred heart that ached

To join them... and then waked....