Just one and twenty years to-day,
Just one and twenty years to-day,
Since first I pressed thee to my heart;
Thy precious form lies `neath the clay,
And from my boy I was forced to part.
I thanked the God of light and love,
When to our home my darling came;
And pray that we may meet above
In thy beauteous spirit home.
I miss my boy at noon and night,
I place for him the vacant chair?
I see him not at morning light;
I look around; he is not there.
In every life some rain must fall,
But after clouds the sun must shine;
It's been one year of clouds, and all
Seems saddened in this home of mine.
And yet, my boy, I know thou art near,
Though not within my sight.
I strive in vain thy voice to hear
And see that face so fair and bright.
I listen at the twilight fall
To catch from thee one whispering sound,
And often, to my boy I call,
When silence reigns supreme around.
I had mapped for thee a future bright,
My brightest hopes with thee were laid;
When thou wert taken from my sight--
My sunshine all was turned to shade.
To-day upon thy grave I'll strew
Sweet flowers bright and fair,
And water them with tears of dew,
My blue-eyed boy I love so dear.
I'll strive to dry each falling tear,
And make our home more bright,
And sometime I may claim a share
In thy radiant home of light.