O, Death! thou art a welcome friend,
I woo thee to my heart;
From all I loved and valued once,
I’m ready now to part.
This voice, attuned to notes of joy,
Come, hush to silence now;
And in the stillness of the tomb,
Kind friend! come lay me low!
These hands, now warm with active life,
Fear not thy chilling grasp;
Come, Death! though icy cold thou art,
Thy hand I’ll freely clasp.
These eyes, now fondly glancing round
On those I dearly love,
Come, o’er them spread a filmy veil,
Nor let them longer rove.
These lips, now forming words of love,
Come, give one palsying kiss!
They’ll yield thee up their living breath,
With joyful eagerness.
Come, take this heart, this beating heart,
And freeze it all to stone;
And let my soul, my longing soul,
Fly to th’ Eternal One!
Kind Death! come, take me in thine arms,
And set me wholly free!
I’ll thank thee for that cold embrace
Through all eternity!