CXV + 

Separation of Friends + 

Do not their souls, who ’neath the Altar wait + 

Until their second birth, + 

The gift of patience need, as separate + 

From their first friends of earth? + 

Not that earth’s blessings are not all outshone + 

By Eden’s Angel flame, + 

But that earth knows not yet, the Dead has won + 

That crown, which was his aim. + 

For when he left it, ’twas a twilight scene + 

About his silent bier, + 

A breathless struggle, faith and sight between, + 

And Hope and sacred Fear. + 

Fear startled at his pains and dreary end, + 

Hope raised her chalice high, + 

And the twin-sisters still his shade attend, + 

View’d in the mourner’s eye. + 

So day by day for him from earth ascends, + 

As steam in summer-even, + 

The speechless intercession of his friends, + 

Toward the azure heaven. + 

Ah dearest, with a word he could dispel + 

All questioning, and raise + 

Our hearts to rapture, whispering all was well + 

And turning prayer to praise. + 

And other secrets too he could declare, + 

By patterns all divine, + 

His earthly creed retouching here and there, + 

And deepening every line. + 

Dearest! he longs to speak, as I to know, + 

And yet we both refrain: + 

It were not good: a little doubt below, + 

And all will soon be plain. + 