1832

"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN"

by William Cullen Bryant

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN -

Oh, deem not they are blest alone

Whose lives a peaceful tenor keep:

The Power who pities man, hath shown

A blessing for the eyes that weep. -

The light of smiles shall fill again

The lids that overflow with tears;

And weary hours of woe and pain

Are promises of happier years. -

There is a day of sunny rest

For every dark and troubled night:

And grief may bide an evening guest,

But joy shall come with early light. -

And thou, who, o'er thy friend's low bier,

Dost shed the bitter drops like rain,

Hope that a brighter, happier sphere

Will give him to thy arms again. -

Nor let the good man's trust depart,

Though life its common gifts deny,-

Though with a pierced and bleeding heart

And spurned of men, he goes to die. -

For God hath marked each sorrowing day

And numbered every secret tear,

And heaven's long age of bliss shall pay

For all his children suffer here. - -