The Republican journal., 1888-12-13
A Funeral Poem.

Obed Dyer, who died in Newton, Iowa, Nov. 4th,
will be remembered by some of our older citi-
zens. He came to Morrill, when child and lived
in that town until 1886. He married sister of
Mr.. l.. II. Jackson, of Waldo. On leaving Morrill,
Mr.. Dyer went to Ohio, residing in that State until
1862. when he removed to Iowa, which was his
home until his death. He left Il widow, an only
daughter and one son, who is married. Among
the trees destroyed in the ice storm few years
ago was an old elm in which Mr.. Dyer was inter
ested and he wrote some verses concerning it
which were published in the Journal. Before his
death he composed funeral poem to be read at
his funeral, and his wishes were faithfully carried
out. Mr.. Jackson has furnished us 4 copy of the
poem, thinking 1t would interest the relatives and
those who knew the deceased when he was a resi-
dent of this county II is as follows:
How strange indeed is human life,
We're here we know not why,
LIES pathway leads through toll and strife,
We're born, we live, we die,
And there mans boosted knowledge ends.
Nc more by man is known,
If there's a life beyond the grave,
God knows, and God alone.
These tol-worn hands that long have wrought
Obedent to the will,
Shall toll no more. Their work is done
At last in death they're still.
These feet that trod New England's hills
When Life was bright and new,
That tracked the fields and pastures DER,
And forests through and through,
That pressed the gray old granite rocks,
But left no foot prints there,
And fingered on each mossclad knoll
SO beautiful and fair
That climbed high up the steep hillside
With steps so light and free,
And wandered by each widening stream
That journeyed to the sea-
These feet have taken their last steps,
Their final race is run,
Their journeys DER, they'll tire more,
Life promenade is done.
These eyes; the wonderous handiwork
OF Gods great matchless power
So wisely fashioned for the want
They were designed to til
Bright shining lights, God given lamps.
lllumnng lfe's track
On which we travel all one way,
But no one journeys back.
These eyes that sparkled in the light
OF the bright shining sun,
And in the lesser lunar lights,
When Sol his race had run,
That gazed upon the stir-lit fields
OF boundess, shoreless blue,
Where space defies all human eyes,
Imagination too,
And even tried to reach those realms
Beyond the starry land
To know if God had worlis out there
Obcying his command;
These eyes that shed sad tears of grief
When sorrows cup ran DER,
shall no more weep. From deaths dark siecl
They've walked to weep 20 more.
These ears that in Their mystic way
Caught up each soun4 and strain
That floated out in airy waves.
And stamped them on the brain:
These ears that heard the cannon boom,
The cataract's mighty roar,
Heard thunders burst their fiery bands,
Old ocean lash the shore.
These ears how huShed in silence now,
Silence forevcrmore.
| This heart that did its work so long
And did its work well.
Forcing the life blood through these veins,
Just how no one can tell:
But this much we're allowed to know,
This much we understands
This heart that keeps these fires aglow
This heart was wisely planned.
Through long, long Years now passed AWAY,
This engine OF the breast
| Has ever labored night and day
| Cnceasng without rest.
| Awake, asleep, twas all the same,
| This constant work went on
How strange indeed so frail thing
Should last SO very long.
But now its labors are all past
Its usefulness is done,
Its pulses numbered to the last,
All numbered every one:
And all there is Of Obcd Drew,
As far as can be known,
Lies here, a worthless worn out thing
Fit for the grave alone.
| Faith says that life shall reign DER DEATH
| That endless lfe's mans lot,
Whlle reason says it may be So
| And then 1t may be not.
| But one things certain, that vast power
That framed great Heavens blue DOME
Where circling planets make their rounds
| And wandering comets roam,
| That power that swung the planets up
Each in its place high,
And marked with care each pathway there,
| And bid them circling llv.
| At this point Mr. Drew became too weak t,
dictate any further and the balance was taken
from some of his other writings.
Yes one by one, all shall bid adieu
| To all we value here,
Go to the mansions of the dead
| And join the slumberng millions there:
| And shall that be our final end,
| Shall death DER life eternal reign?
Has deaths dark night no morning star
| To light us into life again,
| No, let us hope that He who made
| Inc strange, strange things, which round we zee
| Has now In store a better home,
better life for you and me,
| A happy home of ample room,
| Where all shall meet beyond the tomb