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Mary Howitt (Angel's Wing Peace to the dead)

The Angel's Wing. "Peace to the dead!" no children sung, Slow pacing up the nave; No prayers were read, no knell was rung, As deep we dug his grave.

There is a German superstition that when a sudden silence takes place in company, an Angel at that moment makes a circuit among them, and the first person who breaks the silence is supposed to have been touched by the wing of the passing seraph. For the purposes of poetry, I thought two persons preferable to many, in illustrating this very beautiful superstition.

We only heard the winter's wind, B HEN by the evening's quiet light There sit two silent lovers, They say, while in such tranquil plight, An Angel round them hovers; And further still old legends tell, The first who breaks the silent spell, To say a soft and pleasing thing, Hath felt the passing Angel's wing.

Thus a musing minstrel strayed By the summer ocean, Gazing on a lovely maid With a bard's devotion; Yet his love he never spoke Till now the silent spell he broke- The hidden fire to flame did spring, Fanned by the passing Angel's wing. "I have loved thee well and long, With love of Heaven's own making!- This is not a poet's song, But a true heart speaking; I will love thee still untired!"

He felt-he spoke-as one inspired; The words did from Truth's fountain spring, Upwakened by the Angel's wing.

Silence o'er the maiden fell, Her beauty lovelier making- And by her blush he knew full well The dawn of love was breaking.

It came like sunshine o'er his heart, He felt that they should never part, She spoke and oh, the lovely thing Had felt the passing Angel's wing!