The cloud of recent death is past away
But yet a shadow lingers o'er his tomb;
To tell that the pale standard of decay
Is reared triumphantly o'er life's sullied bloom.

And now the eye bedimmed by tears may gaze
On the fair lines his gifted pencil drew
The tongue unfalt'ring speak[s] its meed of praise
When we behold those scenes to Nature true

True to the common Nature that we see
In England's sunny fields, her hills, and vales
On the wild bosom of her storm-dark sea
Still heaving to the wind that o'er it wails

How many winged inhabitants of air
How many plume-clad floaters of the deep
The mighty artist drew in forms as fair
As those that now the skies and waters sweep

From the great Eagle, with his lightning eye
His tyrant glance, his talons dyed in blood
To the sweet breather-forth of melody
The gentle merry minstrel of the wood

Each in his attitude of native grace
Looks on the gazer life-like free and bold
And if the rocks be his abiding place
Far off appears the winged marauder's hold

But if the little builder rears his nest
In the still shadow of green tranquil trees
And singing sweetly 'mid the silence blest
Sits a meet emblem of untroubled peace

A change comes o'er the spirit of our dream
Woods wave around in crested majesty
We almost feel the joyous sunshine's beam
And hear the breath of the sweet south go by.

Our childhood's days return, again in thought
We wander in a land of love and light —
And mingled memories joy and sorrow fraught
Gush on our hearts with overwhelming might

Sweet flowers seem gleaming 'mid the tangled grass
Sparkling with spring-drops from the rushing rill
And as these fleeting visions fade and pass
Perchance some pensive tears our eyes may fill

These soon are wiped away, again we turn
With fresh delight, to the enchanted page
Where pictured thoughts that breathe and speak and burn
Still please alike our youth and riper age

There rises some lone rock, all wet with surge
And dashing billows glimmering in the light
Of a wan moon whose silent rays emerge
From clouds that veil their lustre cold and bright

And there 'mongst reeds upon a river's side
A wild bird sits, and brooding o'er her nest
Still guards the priceless gems her joy and pride
Now ripening 'neath her hope-enlivened breast

We turn the page, before the expectant eye
A traveller stands lone on some desert heath
The glorious sun is passing from the sky
While fall his farewell rays on all beneath

O'er the far hills a purple veil seems flung
Dim herald of the coming shades of night
E'en now Diana's lamp aloft is hung
Drinking full radiance from the fount of light

O, when the solemn wind of midnight sighs
Where will the lonely trav'ller lay his head
Beneath the tester of the star-bright skies
On the wild moor he'll find a dreary bed

Now we behold a marble Naiad, placed
Beside a fountain on her sculptured throne
Her bending form with simplest beauty graced
Her white robes gathered in a snowy zone

She from a polished vase pours forth a stream
Of sparkling water to the waves below
Which roll in light & music while the gleam
Of sunshine flings through shade a golden glow

A hundred fairer scenes these leaves reveal
But there are tongues that injure while they praise
I cannot speak the rapture that I feel
When on the work of such a mind I gaze

Then Farewell Bewick genius' favoured son
Death's sleep is on thee all thy woes are past
From earth departed, life and labour done
Eternal peace and rest are thine at last