Mary Georgia Elliot

Poem written 1915 after Georgia's death by her mother Dora Gunter Elliott.

Darling, the God of all the earth will e'er do right And when He took His gift, my treasure, out of my sight I knew ‘twas best, yet I could feel naught else but pain— Shocked, stunned, killed, that I could see you never again—

O Georgia, in our divided love, God fixed it so. Heaven's glory and peace are yours—mine earth's woe. ‘Tis just. I'm glad from bitter tears your life is spared; The tempest passed beneath your soul and Jesus saved.

Like a lily raised from a charred field, wafted on High, Unscorched by sin, you were gently borne, cleaving the sky. A trophy of blood in snowy robe, divinely given, Content to know His utmost will on earth, in Heaven.

But, O! I miss you in every place, my angel child: My mind and heart and soul are seized with longing wild To fold you in my arms and feel a brief respite From abiding sense of bitter loss, from darkest night.

But what has been can nevermore be—God knows my need. I fall upon the thorns of life and weep and bleed. Gone, daughter, Georgia? Why Dear, the sunlight is withdrawn Brave little companion, gone so soon—almost at dawn.

O my darling, mother's heart, so crushed would break indeed, But the sweet, the bitter palliates, love has decreed, Turn wheresoe'er I may, night or day, I see your touch, Dainty, refined, with rare completeness, careful overmuch.

And though I suffer yet a while, bearing always A hungering heart with yearning rent for goneby days, I shall find sweet isles of lovely green—thoughts of thee— Safe anchorage for my broken barque on sorrow's sea.

I shall hear in soft, melodious tones, cheery and light, A voice from Eden whispering, "Mother, be calm. ‘tis right." But your name, so sacred and sweet, shall ne'er grow strange Upon my lips—undying love can know no change—

In the lone hours of night it is a sweet refrain. A song of faith that gently soothes my tired brain. And so I sleep with quivering lash, enchanted while In dreaming Heaven bends to comfort me with Georgia's smile.

I wake subdued, for God is good to leave to me A beautiful, sparkling, jeweled chain of memory, Gems every one—I count the links from infant days To glorious womanhood and then—our parted ways.

[Excerpt from "Letters of Dora Gunter Elliott" by Julia Elliott, Carolyn Latimer, editors, 1994, p33, digitally scanned by great grandson Jim W Latimer April 2012.] Inscription: Daughter of A C & D F Elliott

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 27 2016, 2:36:25 UTC