AFTER-THOUGHTS. 416 



If death gives life to soulless tree — 



Clothes winter's icy slopes with green ; 

 Cannot our faith, from trammels free, 



Make our deaths turned to life be seen ? 



And if the waters flowing by, 



All soulless, to the absorbing sea. 

 Can rise wind-wafted to the sky 



To drop to live in flower and tree. 

 Can we not know there is no death, 



That life flows on wave after wave. 

 And all unseen the parted breath 



Sighs and exhalts beyond the grave? 



Can pulseless clods thus favored be. 



To grass and flowers and trees give birth, 

 And we, who live and love, must we 



Die only to enrich the earth? 

 If withered seeds can grow and reach 



In spreading splendor to the sky. 

 Must we yearn on in vain beseech. 



Grope heavenward, fall, and vainly die? 



We want no voice of gibbering ghost. 



From gruesome graveyard taken flight, 

 To prove in death we are not lost — 



The future not an endless night. 

 Even he who doubts the Word inspired. 



In nature should not seek in vain. 

 To find the proof so much desired — 



We only die to live again ! 



•3 



