They look in with dim eyes br And faces sweet and sad, br Upon the life that dies — br Shades who have had br Their part in all things here, br The mortal hope and fear, br Till, as now from the bier br But one remove, br They hark the still hours chime br Within the Tower of Time br As to the sad, sweet rhyme br Of life and love. br They see more than we know, br They hear more than we may, br Who ever come and go br Like stars on a cloudy way: br And they grow sad to ken br The mortal life of men, br In the vesper light again br As they look in br And feel the phantom thrill br Of all the good and ill, br Of love and beauty still br And pain and sin. br And then with faces wan br They to each other turn, br Dreaming of what is gone, br E'en as they yearn br Perchance to lift the veil br With fingers thin and pale br Showing the no avail br Of so much here, br And how all things are cast br As in a dream at last, br When the future as the past br Shall disappear.