A Requiem

Thou hast lived in pain and woe,
Thou hast lived in grief and fear ;
Now thine heart can dread no blow,
Now thine eyes can shed no tear :
Storms round us shall beat and rave ;
Thou art sheltered in the grave.

Thou for long, long years hast borne,
Bleeding through Life's wilderness,
Heavy loss and wounding scorn ;
Now thine heart is burdenless :
Thine is quiet in the grave.

We must toil with pain and care,
We must front tremendous Fate,
We must fight with dark Despair :
Thou dost dwell in solemn state,
Couched triumphant, calm and brave.
In the ever-holy grave.