In Your Life We Shall Live

THOSE who come after us
Possibly noting our time
May wonder what we were,
And what was done, and more
Important, what was hoped.

Had this barbarian time
Better resource than hate?
Was there indeed one thing
Good to be said of it?
Or better all forgot?

You listening to the bells
Out of the past we knew,
Tolling to you to come
Tradition of our age,
But muffled, hard to hear,

O leave us in our peace
Sunk in the deep of time,
Be glad of what you are
And will be — in our ooze
Embedded let us lie,

Who living had no peace,
Who dreamed and did not win:
But if we haunt you still,
Then see, do not obscure
The fact and fate of us!

But know we too in our time
Were sometimes near the mark;
We dreamed the thing you are,
Going beyond our means
As good as you in hope.

The passion of your hands,
The tune your makers sing,
The shape of you and joy
To come of you we hoped,
And got you in great joy.

And in that hope we shall have
Your measure, never fear;
In your life we shall live,
And in your death die again
Who loved you long ago.