Page:Maryland, my Maryland, and other poems - Randall - 1908.pdf/169

 Thou who wast scourged and crucified
 * For fallen man! behold to-night
 * A mother smitten in Thy sight.

Behold how all her hopes have died!
 * Send her Thy comfort and Thy light!

Tell her that when the cruel wave
 * Closed o’er her child’s benignant head,
 * The Lord of Life in mercy sped,

To glorify him in the grave
 * And raise an angel from the dead.

Too pure to combat this dark globe,
 * Too gentle for the madding crowd,
 * Better thy unpolluted shroud,

Thy early death, thy spotless robe,
 * Than many years with sadness bowed.

Ah! we who loved thee so will keep
 * Thy memory a sacred trust,
 * A sweet evangel from the dust,

To cheer us when we wail and weep,
 * While thou art dwelling with the Just!