Sent to Heaven.
I had a message to send her,1
To her whom my soul loved best ;2
But I had my task to finish,3
And she had gone home to rest.4
To rest in the far bright heaven—5
Oh, so far away from here ;6
It was vain to speak to my darling,7
For I knew she could not hear.8
I had a message to send her,9
So tender, and true, and sweet ;10
I longed for an angel to bear it,11
And lay it down at her feet.12
I placed it one summer evening13
On a little white cloud’s breast ;14
But it faded in golden splendour,15
And died in the crimson west.16
I gave it the lark, next morning,17
And I watched it soar and soar ;18
But its pinions grew faint and weary,19
And it fluttered to earth once more.20
To the heart of a rose I told it ;21
And the perfume, sweet and rare,22
Growing faint on the blue bright ether,23
Was lost in the balmy air.24
I laid it upon a censer,25
And I saw the incense rise ;26
But its clouds of rolling silver27
Could not reach the far blue skies.28
I cried in my passionate longing :29
“ Has the earth no angel friend30
Who will carry my love the message31
That my heart desires to send ?”32
Then I heard a strain of music,33
So mighty, so pure, so clear,34
That my very sorrow was silent,35
And my heart stood still to hear.36
And I felt in my soul’s deep yearning37
At last the sure answer stir—38
“ The music will go up to heaven,39
And carry my thought to her.”40
It rose in harmonious rushing41
Of mingled voices and strings,42
And I tenderly laid my message43
On the music’s outspread wings.44
I heard it float farther and farther,45
In sound more perfect than speech ;—46
Farther than sight can follow,—47
Farther than soul can reach.48
And I know that at last my message49
Has passed through the golden gate ;50
So my heart is no longer restless,51
And I am content to wait.52