I

  Life, sublime and serene when time had power upon it and ruled its
  breath,
  Changed it, bade it be glad or sad, and hear what change in the
  world's ear saith,
  Shines more fair in the starrier air whose glory lightens the dusk
  of death.

  Suns that sink on the wan sea's brink, and moons that kindle and
  flame and fade,
  Leave more clear for the darkness here the stars that set not and
  see not shade
  Rise and rise on the lowlier skies by rule of sunlight and
  moonlight swayed.

  So, when night for his eyes grew bright, his proud head pillowed on
  Shakespeare's breast,
  Hand in hand with him, soon to stand where shine the glories that
  death loves best,
  Passed the light of his face from sight, and sank sublimely to
  radiant rest.


  II

  Far above us and all our love, beyond all reach of its voiceless
  praise,
  Shines for ever the name that never shall feel the shade of the
  changeful days
  Fall and chill the delight that still sees winter's light on it
  shine like May's.

  Strong as death is the dark day's breath whose blast has withered
  the life we see
  Here where light is the child of night, and less than visions or
  dreams are we:
  Strong as death; but a word, a breath, a dream is stronger than
  death can be.

  Strong as truth and superb in youth eternal, fair as the sundawn's
  flame
  Seen when May on her first-born day bids earth exult in her radiant
  name,
  Lives, clothed round with its praise and crowned with love that
  dies not, his love-lit fame.


  III

  Fairer far than the morning star, and sweet for us as the songs
  that rang
  Loud through heaven from the choral Seven when all the stars of the
  morning sang,
  Shines the song that we loved so long--since first such love in us
  flamed and sprang.

  England glows as a sunlit rose from mead to mountain, from sea to
  sea,
  Bright with love and with pride above all taint of sorrow that
  needs must be,
  Needs must live for an hour, and give its rainbow's glory to lawn
  and lea.

  Not through tears shall the new-born years behold him, crowned with
  applause of men,
  Pass at last from a lustrous past to life that lightens beyond
  their ken,
  Glad and dead, and from earthward led to sunward, guided of Imogen.