Gone.
Alone, at midnight as he knelt, his spirit was aware1
Of Somewhat falling in between the silence and the
prayer.2
prayer.2
A bell’s dull clangour that hath sped so far, it faints and
dies3
dies3
So soon as it hath reach’d the ear whereto its errand
lies ;4
lies ;4
And as he rose up from his knees, his spirit was aware5
Of Somewhat, forceful and unseen, that sought to hold
him there.6
him there.6
As of a Form that stood behind, and on his shoulders
prest7
prest7
Both hands to stay his rising up, and Somewhat in his
breast,8
breast,8
In accents clearer far than words, spake, “ Pray yet
longer, pray,9
longer, pray,9
For one that ever pray’d for thee, this night hath pass’d
away ;10
away ;10
“ A soul that climbing hour by hour, the silver-shining
stair11
stair11
That leads to God’s great treasure-house, grew covetous ;
and there12
and there12
“ Was stored no blessing and no boon, for thee she did
not claim,13
not claim,13
(So lowly, yet importunate!) and ever with thy
name14
“ She link’d, that none in earth or heaven might hinder
it or stay,15
it or stay,15
One Other Name, so strong, that thine hath never
miss’d its way.16
miss’d its way.16
“ This very night within my arms this gracious soul I bore17
Within the Gate, where many a prayer of hers had
gone before ;18
gone before ;18
“ And where she resteth, evermore, one constant song
they raise,19
they raise,19
Of ‘ Holy, holy,’ so that now I know not if she prays ;20
“ But for the voice of Praise in heaven, a voice of Prayer
hath gone21
hath gone21
From Earth ; thy name upriseth now no more; pray
on, pray on.”22
on, pray on.”22