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From: Tomikin <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] 19th Century Poem
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 10:24:01 -0700

Here is a poem I copied from a 19th Century rural Pennsylvania grave years ago. I was new to genealogy and unfortunately did not record the names of the two lovers, but kept the beautiful poem which was so striking among all the other Names and Dates. Their obvious love reached out and grabbed me in the cemetery unexpectedly. I stood transfixed by it -- a great reward to a genealogist wandering like a fool through graveyards for any message from the past. How beautiful the language and how unembarrassed the sentiment of that time. Thought I'd share it. T. Rea

Oh, ever-dear and honored love,
I go my lonely way,
Far from our garden's sweetly smiling roses.
Yet always does their fragrance
Reach me and enfold me --
Even as now my fancy brings you close
And you're more real to me than all the living.

For nightly do I walk with you
The moonlit roads of home
And there we mingle laughter with caresses
And stories of adventure without end.

What matter if I wake in tears at cock-crow?
I'll have the dreams again at night . . .
And after many dreams, the long dream
>From which I'll wake not
And no spell of stars be broken.

(Washington Co., PA)

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• [RHEA-L] 19th Century Poem by Tomikin <>