And Am I Born to Die?

And am I born to die?

To lay this bo­dy down?

And must my trem­bling spir­it fly

Into a world un­known?

A land of deep­est shade

Unpierced by hu­man thought

The drea­ry re­gions of the dead

Where all things are for­got?

Soon as from earth I go

What will be­come of me?

Eternal hap­pi­ness or woe

Must then my por­tion be:

Waked by the trum­pet’s sound

I from my grave shall rise

And see the Judge

with glo­ry crowned

And see the flam­ing skies!

How shall I leave my tomb?

With tri­umph or re­gret?

A fear­ful or a joy­ful doom

A curse or bless­ing meet?

Will an­gel bands con­vey

Their bro­ther to the bar?

Or de­vils drag my soul away

To meet its sen­tence there?

Who can re­solve the doubt

That tears my anx­ious breast?

Shall I be with the damned cast out

Or num­bered with the blest?

I must from God be driv­en

Or with my Sav­ior dwell;

Must come at His com­mand to Heav­en

Or else—de­part to hell!