Away with death, away

Henry Kirke White. [Death.] This solemn poem by Henry Kirke White, titled "Athanatos" (meaning "immortal" or "deathless"), was first published posthumously by Robert Southey in his edition of The Remains of Henry Kirke White (1807). The poem was subsequently reprinted in numerous collected editions of White's poetic works throughout the nineteenth century. Although the complete composition was never adapted for use as a standard church hymn, a selection of twenty lines was extracted and slightly revised to begin with the line "Hail the heavenly scenes of peace." This altered selection was introduced by Dr. James Martineau in his influential collection Hymns for the Christian Church and Home (1840) and retained in his 1873 revised edition. In this adapted form, White's verses served as a contemplative meditation on immortality and the heavenly peace that awaits the Christian soul beyond mortal death.