The Bridal And The Burial

I saw thee young and beautiful, I saw thee rich and gay, In the first blush of womanhood, Upon thy wedding-day; The church-bells rang, And the little children sang: 'Flowers, flowers, kis her feet; Sweets to the sweet; The winter's past, the rains are gone-- Bless'd is the bride whom the sun shines on.' I saw thee poor and desolate, I saw thee fade away, In broken-hearted widowhood, Before thy locks were grey; The death-bell rang, And the little children sang: 'Lilies, dress her winding-sheet; Sweets to the sweet: The summer's past, the sunshine gone; Bless'd is the corpse which the rain rains on.'