Love Lives beyond the Tomb

(Remains of the World Trade Center,
photographed on September 14, 2001)

LOVE LIVES BEYOND THE TOMB

Love lives beyond
The tomb, the earth, which fades like dew —
I love the fond,
The faithful, and the true.

Love lies in sleep,
The happiness of healthy dreams.
Eve’s dews may weep,
But love delightful seems.

’Tis seen in flowers,
And in the even’s pearly dew
On earth’s green hours,
And in the heaven’s eternal blue.

’Tis heard in spring
When light and sunbeams, warm and kind,
On angel’s wing
Bring love and music to the wind.

And where is voice
So young, so beautiful, so sweet
As nature’s choice,
Where spring and lovers meet?

Love lies beyond
The tomb, the earth, the flowers, and dew.
I love the fond,
The faithful, young, and true.

~ John Clare (1793-1864), English Romantic poet