48 STEVENSON'S POEMS
DEATH, TO THE DEAD FOR EVERMORE
DEATH, to the dead for evermore
A King, a God, the last, the best of friends—
Whene'er this mortal journey ends
Death, like a host, comes smiling to the door ;
Smiling, he greets us, on that tranquil shore
Where neither piping bird nor peeping dawn
Disturbs the eternal sleep.
But in the stillness far withdrawn
Our dreamless rest for evermore we keep.
For as from open windows forth we peep Upon the night-time star beset And with dews for ever wet; So from this garish life the spirit peers; And lo! as a sleeping city death outspread, Where breathe the sleepers evenly; and lo ! After the loud wars, triumphs, trumpets, tears And clamour of man's passion. Death appears, And we must rise and go.
Soon are eyes tired with sunshine ; soon the ears Weary of utterance,seeing all is said; Soon, racked by hopes and fears, The all-pondering, all-contriving head,