Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Rest

 
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O Earth lie heavily upon her eyes;

Seal her sweet eyes weary of watching, Earth.

Lie close around her, leave no room for mirth

With its harsh laughter, nor for sound of sighs.

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She hath no questions, she hath no replies,

Hushed in and curtained with a blessed dearth

Of all that irked her from her hour of birth;

With stillness that is almost Paradise.

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Darkness more clear than noon-day holdeth her,

Silence more musical than any song;

Even her very heart hath ceased to stir;

Until the morning of Eternity

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Her rest shall not begin nor end, but be,

And when she wakes she will not think it long.