O'erwhelming sorrow now demands my song: <br />From death the overwhelming sorrow sprung. <br />What flowing tears? What hearts with grief opprest? <br />What sighs on sighs heave the fond parent's breast? <br />The brother weeps, the hapless sisters join <br />Th' increasing woe, and swell the crystal brine; <br />The poor, who once his gen'rous bounty fed, <br />Droop, and bewail their benefactor dead. <br />In death the friend, the kind companion lies, <br />And in one death what various comfort dies! <br /> Th' unhappy mother sees the sanguine rill <br />Forget to flow, and nature's wheels stand still, <br />But see from earth his spirit far remov'd, <br />And know no grief recalls your best-belov'd: <br />He, upon pinions swifter than the wind, <br />Has left mortality's sad scenes behind <br />For joys to this terrestrial state unknown, <br />And glories richer than the monarch's crown. <br />Of virtue's steady course the prize behold! <br /> <br />What blissful wonders to his mind unfold! <br />But of celestial joys I sing in vain: <br />Attempt not, muse, the too advent'rous strain. <br /> <br /> No more in briny show'rs, ye friends around, <br />Or bathe his clay, or waste them on the ground: <br />Still do you weep, still wish for his return? <br />How cruel thus to wish, and thus to mourn? <br />No more for him the streams of sorrow pour, <br />But haste to join him on the heav'nly shore, <br />On harps of gold to tune immortal lays, <br />And to your God immortal anthems raise.<br /><br />Phillis Wheatley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-lady-and-her-children/
