Three years ago, I passed a little church <br />While I walked on my way <br />Sorrow rang out from the steeple bells <br />As in the cemetery a group of people gathered <br />I stopped to watch for a moment <br />A small coffin being carried to the graveside <br />Where soon it would be laid <br /> <br />The priest stood beside it and slowly said <br />“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away <br />We commit this child into the arms of the Lord <br />For his safe keeping for ever and ever <br />Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” <br /> <br />At the graveside I could see in the scene <br />A young girl about nineteen and young man about twenty one <br />Both were heartbroken because it was their child <br />Their one any only son <br />Being laid to rest, but never to be forgotten <br /> <br />I turned to go on my way, when I saw from the grave <br />A stairway to the sky appear <br />On each step an angel stood all looking young and fair <br />I stood astonished for a while <br />As up the stairs walked a child <br />From that day to this I wonder all the time <br />What was the meaning of this sign <br /> <br /> <br />(Date written unknown)<br /><br />David Harris<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/funeral-of-a-child/
