Henry Alford

Sonnet XXX. On Seeing Our Family--Vault.

This lodging is well chosen: for 'tis near The fitful sighing of those chestnut--trees; And every Sabbath morning it can hear The swelling of the hymnèd melodies; And the low booming of the funeral bell Shall murmur through the dark and vaulted room, Waking its solemn echoes but to tell That one more soul is gathered to its home. There we shall lie beneath the trodden stone:-- Oh, none can tell how dreamless and how deep Our peace will be when the last earth is thrown, The last notes of the music fallen asleep, The mourners past away, the tolling done, The last chink closed, and the long dark begun.