The Two Angels Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Two angels, one of Life and one of Death,
         Passed o'er our village as the morning broke;
The dawn was on their faces, and beneath,
         The sombre houses hearsed with plumes of smoke.

Their attitude and aspect were the same,
         Alike their features and their robes of white;
But one was crowned with amaranth, as with flame,
         And one with asphodels, like flakes of light.

I saw them pause on their celestial way;
         Then said I, with deep fear and doubt oppressed,
"Beat not so loud, my heart, lest thou betray
         The place where thy beloved are at rest!"

And he who wore the crown of asphodels,
         Descending, at my door began to knock,
And my soul sank within me, as in wells
         The waters sink before an earthquake's shock.

I recognized the nameless agony,
         The terror and the tremor and the pain,
That oft before had filled or haunted me,
         And now returned with threefold strength again.

The door I opened to my heavenly guest,
         And listened, for I thought I heard God's voice;
And, knowing whatsoe'er he sent was best,
         Dared neither to lament nor to rejoice.