Press enter after choosing selection

Poetry: Footsteps Of Angels

Poetry: Footsteps Of Angels image
Parent Issue
Day
26
Month
December
Year
1842
Copyright
Public Domain
Additional Text

Written in 1839 in memory of his first wife, Mary Storer Potter Longfellow. Alternate title: "Voices of the Night: A Third Psalm of Life." This is the second printing of the poem in the Signal of Liberty (see "Poetry: Footsteps of Angels" in the December 29, 1841 issue).

Poem
OCR Text

Wken the hours of day are numberecl, And the voiecsof the night Wake the better soul that slumbered, To a holy calm delight: Ere thcevening lamps are lighted, And like phantoms grim mul tall, Shadows from ihe fitful fire light Dance upon the parlor v;ul, Thon the forms of the depatfed Enter at the open door. The beloved ones- the true-hearted, Come to visit me once more; He. the youngand strong-, who cherished, Nolle longings lor !l;e 6:rife - By the way-side feil and perisiied, Weary with the march of life! They th holy ones nnd weakly, Who the erose of suflering bore - Folded their paio hands 6o inctl.iy - Spake with us on earth no more! And with them ihe Being Beauteous, ■Vho unto my youth w;ie given. More than a!l things eUe to love nio, And isnow a saiiU in hcaven. With n b'.ow and noiseless foot&tep, (vOtnca that nicssenger divine, Takea th vac.mt chair behind me, Lays her gentle hand in mine. And as she sits and gazes at me, With thoso deep and tender eyes. . Likc the 6!ars so still and eaint-l:ke, Looking downward from the 6kies, Uttcred not, yet compehenued, Ie the spirit' voicelesa prayer, Soft rebukos, in blccas ended, Breathing from her lips oíh.-. Oh. though oft depressed and lonelj', All myfearsare laid aside, If I bul remeniber only Such aa these have hved nn-I died.