SONNET
SONNET
(To H. M.)
Him, the gods, loving, took while life was young....Say rather (clinging to a wiser creed)God took, and suddenly on wings of speedBore to the utter quietness far flungOf fields Elysian where the horrid tongueOf battle is not. For He knew his needBetter than those who knew him well indeed,Loving him best. Above his grave is rungThe death-bell of all things which hurt the senseAnd vex the mind and plague the soul of man,Tingeing the rainbow colours of his bestDreams drably: and hath cried a voice, “Go hence!Old Angel Time, to weary whom you can,The while my well-beloved child hath rest.”
Him, the gods, loving, took while life was young....Say rather (clinging to a wiser creed)God took, and suddenly on wings of speedBore to the utter quietness far flungOf fields Elysian where the horrid tongueOf battle is not. For He knew his needBetter than those who knew him well indeed,Loving him best. Above his grave is rungThe death-bell of all things which hurt the senseAnd vex the mind and plague the soul of man,Tingeing the rainbow colours of his bestDreams drably: and hath cried a voice, “Go hence!Old Angel Time, to weary whom you can,The while my well-beloved child hath rest.”
Him, the gods, loving, took while life was young....
Say rather (clinging to a wiser creed)
God took, and suddenly on wings of speed
Bore to the utter quietness far flung
Of fields Elysian where the horrid tongue
Of battle is not. For He knew his need
Better than those who knew him well indeed,
Loving him best. Above his grave is rung
The death-bell of all things which hurt the sense
And vex the mind and plague the soul of man,
Tingeing the rainbow colours of his best
Dreams drably: and hath cried a voice, “Go hence!
Old Angel Time, to weary whom you can,
The while my well-beloved child hath rest.”