Maria Jane Jewsbury

Earth and Heaven

  A light, a darkness, mingling, each with each,
  Rogers.

SUN, ever guiding
What never knows rest,
Vast giant striding
From east unto west;
Eye piercing and shining,
God's emblem set forth,
Through darkness divining,
What seest thou on Earth?
"Human lips breathing
The words of despair;
Human hands wreathing
The fetters of care;
Human brows burning
With hopes little worth;
Human hearts mourning,
This mark I on earth.
"Youth gaily dancing
With life in its bloom,
Armed hosts advancing
With banner and plume;
Grey sages debating
On wisdom and worth,
And Death on all waiting,
This mark I on earth.
"The sea its waves pouring
Where fields lay in light;
Wild beasts and their roaring,
Where cities rose bright;
Where'er my glance ranges,
Hot tears and mad mirth,
Mischances and changes,
This mark I on earth."
More bright and immortal
Than sun, or than star,
SOUL, look from thy portal,
What seest thou afar?
Beyond the world's weeping,
To thy view is given,
With eagle-range sweeping,
What seest thou in heaven?
"Blest angels bringing
The saved from below;
Mortals far flinging
Their garments of woe;
One burst of wide wonder
From myriads forgiven,
The music of thunder,
This mark I in heaven.
"Joys the world slighted,
All found to be true;
Flowers death had blighted,
All blooming anew:
Earthly ties strengthened
No more to be riven;
Love with life lengthened,
This mark I in heaven.
"Human lips speaking
No word but God's praise
Human hands seeking
His trophies to raise;
Human brows peaceful
Where passion had striven;
Human hearts blissful,
This mark I in heaven."