Last night the howling wind its torment bore,
upon the rugged Oak its anger tore,
and how the mighty thunder did shout aloud
its wrath to the heavy laden cloud,
whose burning light would not cease,
to remind the guilty there'll be no peace,
for the turmoil of the spume flung seas
had silenced the gentle southern breeze;
thus, from the dreary winter's rain,
the dreaded news o'er the ether came;
so the wise with futile brain
will life's understanding, its mystique claim,
for all their eloquent articulated words
just makes the parting more absurd,
that in ignorance, mock her loving flame,
for loves lies deeper than just a name,
So, the sweetness of the pure white rose
will the Surrey air a fragrance blow,
thy precious dust will perchance abound
a richer flora to the barren ground,
and transmute the sombre winter scene,
to paint forever the greyness evergreen,
and every songbird echoing Spring
shall rejoice in love that you did bring.
Though thy earthly candle no longer burn,
the spirit to me shall oft return,
in poignant memories recalled to dream,
that tread the paths where you have been.
So, stripped bare of all my conscious pride,
when like a child, I wept, I cried,
and cried and cried so many tears,
enough to fill the oceans' million years,
for all the years that were too soon,
this earth to lose a flowered bloom;
for long I've questioned and asked why
your haste to torch the vespers sky.
Alas! Life's course, powerless to re-arrange,
once destiny deems it will not change,
So, heart consoled- that, that was your eye,
now the fairest jewel in God's sky.
But oft in gloom and in desperation stare
at the emptiness, the lonely fireside chair,
and wish and wish again that I could hear
the cheerful pleasant 'Hello Dear',
but most of all with aching heart shall miss
the softness of that parental kiss.