1 Pure spirit! O where art thou now! <br />2 O whisper to my soul! <br />3 O let some soothing thought of thee, <br />4 The bitter grief control! <br /> <br />5 'Tis not for thee the tears I shed, <br />6 Thy sufferings now are o'er; <br />7 The sea is calm, the tempest past, <br />8 On that eternal shore. <br /> <br />9 No more the storms that wrecked thy peace <br />10 Shall tear that gentle breast; <br />11 Nor Summer's rage, nor Winter's cold, <br />12 Thy poor, poor frame molest. <br /> <br />13 Thy peace is sealed, thy rest is sure, <br />14 My sorrows are to come; <br />15 Awhile I weep and linger here, <br />16 Then follow to the tomb. <br /> <br />17 And is the awful veil withdrawn, <br />18 That shrouds from mortal eyes, <br />19 In deep impenetrable gloom, <br />20 The secrets of the skies? <br /> <br />21 O, in some dream of visioned bliss, <br />22 Some trance of rapture, show <br />23 Where, on the bosom of thy God, <br />24 Thou rest'st from human woe! <br /> <br />25 Thence may thy pure devotion's flame <br />26 On me, on me descend; <br />27 To me thy strong aspiring hopes, <br />28 They faith, thy fervours lend. <br /> <br />29 Let these my lonely path illume, <br />30 And teach my weakened mind <br />31 To welcome all that's left of good, <br />32 To all that's lost resigned. <br /> <br />33 Farewell! With honour, peace, and love, <br />34 Be thy dear memory blest! <br />35 Thou hast no tears for me to shed, <br />36 When I too am at rest.<br /><br />Anna Lætitia Barbauld<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dirge-written-november-1808/
