Friends Beyond

I cannot think of them as dead,
  Who walk with me no more;
Along the path of life I tread--
  They have but gone before.

The Father's House is mansioned fair,
  Beyond my vision dim;
All souls are His, and here or there
  Are living unto Him.

And still their silent ministry
  Within my heart hath place,
As when on earth they walked with me,
  And met me face to face.

Their lives are made forever mine;
  What they to me have been
Hath left henceforth its seal and sign
  Engraven deep within.

Mine are they by an ownership
  Nor time nor death can free;
For God hath given to love to keep
  Its own eternally.

--Frederick L. Hosmer, 1840-1929