Footsteps Of Angels Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Footsteps Of Angels

Rating: 3.5


When the hours of Day are numbered,
And the voices of the Night
Wake the better soul, that slumbered,
To a holy, calm delight;

Ere the evening lamps are lighted,
And, like phantoms grim and tall,
Shadows from the fitful firelight
Dance upon the parlor wall;

Then the forms of the departed
Enter at the open door;
The beloved, the true-hearted,
Come to visit me once more;

He, the young and strong, who cherished
Noble longings for the strife,
By the roadside fell and perished,
Weary with the march of life!

They, the holy ones and weakly,
Who the cross of suffering bore,
Folded their pale hands so meekly,
Spake with us on earth no more!

And with them the Being Beauteous,
Who unto my youth was given,
More than all things else to love me,
And is now a saint in heaven.

With a slow and noiseless footstep
Comes that messenger divine,
Takes the vacant chair beside me,
Lays her gentle hand in mine.

And she sits and gazes at me
With those deep and tender eyes,
Like the stars, so still and saint-like,
Looking downward from the skies.

Uttered not, yet comprehended,
Is the spirit's voiceless prayer,
Soft rebukes, in blessings ended,
Breathing from her lips of air.

Oh, though oft depressed and lonely,
All my fears are laid aside,
If I but remember only
Such as these have lived and died!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Ramesh T A 19 September 2011

Departed souls and angel give company to lonely souls in silent hours of night and that is wonderfully depicted in this poem to give confidence to readers of such predicament in real life! Really a beautiful and worthy poem to read to get the inspiration one needs when one is totally out of tune in this world on certain times!

7 5 Reply
Okoronkwo Jackson Jonathan 20 September 2012

Shall I not say that truly this is a hand of professionality.

7 4 Reply
Ravi A 19 September 2009

'Uttered not, yet comprehended, Is the spirit's voiceless prayer, Soft rebukes, in blessings ended, Breathing from her lips of air.'..... The spirit's voiceless prayer. The poem tells everything through this single line. Yes, our beloved departed souls do bless us from the heavens through their voiceless prayers. This prayer is enough for us to lead a peaceful, prosperous life. I can really count on my life after the passing away of my father back in 2002. I know how his blessings are guiding my life now. I can very well understand the essence of the poem based on my personal experience.

6 4 Reply
Savita Tyagi 19 September 2014

Love this poem with all its tenderness.

6 4 Reply
Kelly Passion 19 September 2012

With a slow and noiseless footstep Comes that messenger divine, Takes the vacant chair beside me, Lays her gentle hand in mine. Intensifying. I really love this piece. great piece

6 4 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 25 November 2020

When the hours of Day are numbered, And the voices of the Night Wake the better soul, that slumbered, To a holy, calm delight; Holy calm delight. very good poem. tony

0 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 30 January 2020

More than all things else to love me, And is now a saint in heaven./// beautiful loving and heartfelt writings

0 0 Reply
Expiallidocious 29 December 2019

Beautiful tribute to a mother! Mothers eyes!

0 0 Reply
Savita Tyagi 31 October 2018

Always a pleasure to read. One of my favorite.

2 1 Reply
Bonnie 02 September 2018

So good to know others find comfort when the dead come to visit!

0 1 Reply
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