The Death

By Viren Gohil

The death of one we love,

Is like the sun that goes

Away to rise upon some other dawn!

We weep to think that he

Who smiled so lately in our sight,

Within the arms of death has ceased to fight.

But death is not the end!

We know - for who has gone

Can return no more.

The path by which we came,

He treads alone;

We may not follow him

To that fair land which is his home!

Adown life's surging tide,

He fought the fight - and then withdrew

To that calm shore death only may disclose.

We weep - while yet we wonder,

For death is but a chance!

Our loved one lives again -

This heart says yes! this mind believes.

If death be sleep, and if sleep be death,

Then too must death be nothingness;

And he who once has slept no mortal wakes.

Death is not the end!

Life knows no pause: the tide

Of death, the death of sleep,

Rolls on forever. We may not stay!

We turn away - and death is gone!

"Alas!" we cry with bitter breath, "Once more that sun has set!"

But death is not the end. He lives again!

And he alone can tell the place,

Where death for him became a change to life instead.

Death is not all decay -

The soul will bear God's touch,

For that which does abide forevermore,

Is nobler far than what shall have an end.

Has death ended strife? Then love must grow;

And death be victory? Then triumph draws

To greater heights of conquest.

Death shall die!

The Death!

The death of one we love,

Is like the sun that goes away to rise upon

What death can take away,

when death is gone?

The death which death can never slay,

Can ne'er be death - but something more than life!

Death is not death to one on whom

The touch of God has fallen; the last dread strife

Of death for him has brought immortal life!

We weep - while yet we wonder,

for death is but a chance.

At times some weaker pulse within us cries,

"This cannot be - for death is death!"

But foolish tears! for God has turned to good

The tide of that which seems of ill.

For death is not the end!

He lives again, who once has died!

Death is but life's night - he lives by day!

Death is not death to him who once has lain

Within the arms of death, and by the hand

Of God has felt a higher life upborne!

"He spoke to Moses' face to face,

As friend with friend,

And gazed upon His glory-grace

In full day's light."

Death is not death! We step beyond!

Another sun - another day!

Beyond the shore that fringes this dim sleep,

He lives again, who once has died.

Death is not death - he lives again!

The warmth within life's chill, the blaze without

Life's glowing flame have been his breath.

Death is death no more! He knows his way

Unto that place whence none return.

He wanders there on paths of light,

Not in the darkness of a strange, strange night.

He lives again who once has died!

"Once will his slumber know an end,

For this is not the end!"

Death is not death - our loved one lives!

Our brother walks in glory, far above

The mists of time and space - beyond our reach.

Our loved one lives again! We look for him!

And in our hearts we bear him company.

The tears our eyes have shed,

Are like the waters which in summer fall -

They leave the grasses fresh and fair.

And we who live, and know that he is gone,

Can do no less than

By Viren Gohil