Toll On

[On hearing the East Cambridge fire-bell toll during the funeral of James Russell Lowell, at noon, Aug. 14, 1891]

Toll on with mournful sound, thou bell;

              Toll on.

Thou canst but love and virtue tell;

              Toll on.

We listen to thy peel, oh bell!

              Toll on.

And murmur low: “with him, ‘tis well”;

              Toll on.

‘Tis but another victory won;

              Toll on.

Again, “His will, not ours, be done”;

              Toll on.

Aug. 14, ‘91

Pub. in the

Camb. Press

James Russell Lowell (February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets who rivaled the popularity of British poets. These poets usually used conventional forms and meters in their poetry, making them suitable for families entertaining at their fireside.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Russell_Lowell#/media/File:James_Russell_Lowell,_1819-1891.jpg