The Burial Of Julian, A Dirge Poem by Josias Homely

The meek soul has departed.
He is our kin no more ;
He has passed the gulf we soon shall pass-
To the dim and distant shore.

Strew flowers of sweet remembrance,
Upon his early bier ;
Born from the weakness of the heart,
We drop on them a tear.

Calm in his death-sleep resting,
Still is his lifeless breast,
Come—say your last farewell to him.
And leave him to his rest.

Sorrowing, not hopelessly,
We yield to him who gave ;—
With thanks, we lay our blooming boy
Unsullied, in the grave.

To him, with whom reposes
Each spirit of the just,
Commit Ave now the deathless soul—
Commit the dust to dust.

With funeral note and chanted hymn,
Our brother lay to rest;
A brief prayer trembling on each lip—
Strew earth upon his breast.

And earth her son embraces.
And heaven has claimed its own;
Now raise the song of brighter lays,
Our mournful task is done.

We wept to see him live in pain,
We wept to see him die;
But now we raise the song of praise,
Rejoicing in his joy.