Life and Existence

Rose a nurse of ninety years,

 

Dear as remembered kisses after death.

 

Dear as remembered kisses after death.

 

Home they brought her warrior dead.

 

After it, follow it,

 

Death is the end of life; ah, why

 

Death is the end of life; ah, why

 

Forward, forward let us range,

 

Forward, forward let us range,

 

Out flew the web and floated wide;

 

She left the web, she left the loom,

 

There hath he lain for ages and will lie

 

One God, one law, one element,

 

There lives more faith in honest doubt,

 

So many worlds, so much to do,

 

So many worlds, so much to do,

 

God’s finger touched him, and he slept.

 

That men may rise on stepping-stones

 

That men may rise on stepping-stones

 

The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

 

The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

 

More things are wrought by prayer

 

Authority forgets a dying king.

 

Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.