Hello again, friends, I want to share a poem with you by Louisa May Alcott. She wrote it in memorium of her mother in the late 1870s. I know it is not a ‘happy’ poem but it is so artfully written that I knew I had to share it as soon as I had read it. 
Transfiguration
Mysterious death! who in a single hour
Life’s gold can so refine,
and by thy art divine
change mortal weakness to immortal power!
Bending beneath the weight of eighty years, spent with the noble strife of a victorious life,
we watched her fading heavenward, through our tears.
But ere the sense of loss our hearts had wrung, a miracle was wrought;
And swift as happy thought She lived again – brave, beautiful and young.
Age, pain and sorrow dropped the veils they wore And showed the tender eyes of angels in disguise,
whose discipline so patiently she bore.
The past years brought their harvest rich and fair; While memory and love,
Together, fondly wove A golden garland for the silver hair.
How could we mourn like those who are bereft, when every pang of grief
Found balm for its relief In counting up the treasures she had left? ~
Faith that withstood the shocks of toll and time; Hope that defied despair;
Patience that conquered care ; And loyalty, whose courage was sublime;
The great deep heart that was a home for all ~ Just, eloquent and strong In protest against wrong;
Wide charity, that knew no sin, no fall;
The spartan spirit that made life so grand, Mating poor daily needs with high, heroic deeds,
That wrested happiness from Fate’s hard hand.
We thought to weep, but sing for joy instead, Full of the grateful peace That follows her release;
For nothing but the weary dust lies dead.
Oh! noble woman! Never more a queen Than in the laying down of scepter and of crown
To win a greater kingdom, yet unseen:
Teaching us how to seek the highest goal, to earn the true success – To live to love, to bless –
And make death proud to take a royal soul
~Louisa May Alcott
Thanks for stopping by, Laura Starr
the start of a good life 
Lovely. Touched my heart.
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Yes, that was lovely, and surely took me back to the bedside of my mother. We didn’t want to see her go, but oh, the path she was taking– Who could hold her back? I am not normally a fan of poems, but that was nice to read. Thank you!
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and yet, you have a bit of the poet in you dear! i’m glad you enjoyed it, and I admit to thinking of grandma as well, when I read it the first time.
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Lovely poem! What a great way to start off the week. I feel like poetry is a lost art these days. It’s so refreshing to see that you brought it back to life on your blog. 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by Ally! I adore poetry and even used to write it, but let life get in the way – i might have to start it up again. there’s something nostalgic about it, isn’t there?
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