The children sing of angels and martyrs welcoming the souls of the Dead into Paradise. Emily Dickinson’s poem Tie the Strings to my Life, My Lord is also about preparing to enter heaven. But instead of looking forward, the poet looks back, gazing as long as she can at the world she leaves behind.
Treble chorus:
In paradisum deducant te angeli: May angels lead you into paradise;
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, May the Martyrs welcome you upon your arrival,
et perducant te in civitatem and lead you
sanctam Jerusalem. into the holy city of Jerusalem.
Soprano:
Tie the Strings to my Life, My Lord,
Then, I am ready to go!
Just a look at the Horses –
Rapid! That will do!
Put me in on the firmest side –
So I shall never fall –
For we must ride to the Judgment –
And it’s partly down Hill –
But never I mind the steepest –
And never I mind the Sea –
Held fast in Everlasting Race –
By my own Choice, and Thee –
Goodbye to the Life I used to live –
And the World I used to know –
And kiss the Hills, for me, just once –
Then – I am ready to go! (279)
Treble chorus:
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, May a choir of angels welcome you,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere and, with poor Lazarus of old,
aeternam habeas requiem. may you have eternal rest.
Here is a recording.
Here is a link to the first page of my website.