Memories of Snow

In Loving Remembrance of Matilda J. Chaplin

In Loving Remembrance of Matilda J. Chaplin

Life's duty done, as sinks the day,
         Light from its load the spirit flies,
While Heaven and earth combine to say,
         How blest the righteous when he dies.

Author Unknown

Memories bound to DNA,
         Of lovers joined in wedded bliss,
Of children born along the way,
         Of a husband's strong embrace and kiss:
Life's duty done, as sinks the day.

The distant tears in matter's eyes,
         The echoes of faith's story told,
A grave in which the dust now lies,
         That held a soul of purest gold:
Light from its load the spirit flies.

In realms where death does not hold sway,
         She soars with white winged seraphim,
And in paradise kneels to pray,
         For our sins to be forgiven:
While Heaven and earth combine to say,

Blest are the tears a mother cries,
         Blest are the prayers she intones,
Blest the grave where her body lies,
         The tomb that protects her sacred bones:
How blest the righteous when he dies.

Poet's Note: ▼

I begin this on 11 Ilm 157 B.E. (for an explanation of the Baha'i Calendar see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_calendar. Matilda J. Chaplin was my great grandmother, my mother's grandmother.