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VERSE： LIFE IN DEATH AND
DEATH IN LIFE
I。
If the dread day that calls thee hence； Through a red mist of fear
should loom； （Closing in deadliest night and gloom Long hours of aching
dumb suspense；） And leave me to my lonely doom。
I think； beloved； I could see In thy dear eyes the loving light Glaze
into vacancy and night； And still say； 〃God is good to me； And all that He
decrees is right。〃
That； watching thy slow struggling breath； And answering each
imperfect sign； I still could pray thy prayer and mine； And tell thee； dear；
though this was death； That God was love； and love divine。
Could hold thee in my arms； and lay Upon my heart thy weary head；
And meet thy last smile ere it fled； Then hear； as in a dream； one say；
〃Now all is over；she is dead。〃
Could smooth thy garments with fond care； And cross thy hands upon
thy breast； And kiss thine eyelids down to rest； And yet say no word of
despair； But； through my sobbing； 〃It is best。〃
Could stifle down the gnawing pain； And say； 〃We still divide our life；
She has the rest； and I the strife； And mine the loss； and hers the gain： My
ill with bliss for her is rife。〃
Then turn； and the old duties take … Alone nowyet with earnest will
Gathering sweet sacred traces still To help me on； and； for thy sake； My
heart and life and soul to fill。
I think I could check vain weak tears； And toil；although the world's
great space Held nothing but one vacant place； And see the dark and weary
years Lit only by a vanished grace。
And sometimes； when the day was o'er； Call up the tender past again：
Its painful joy； its happy pain； And live it over yet once more； And say；
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〃But few more years remain。〃
And then； when I had striven my best； And all around would smiling
say； 〃See how Time makes all grief decay；〃 Would lie down thankfully to
rest； And seek thee in eternal day。
II。
But if the day should ever rise … It could not and it cannot be … Yet； if
the sun should ever see； Looking upon us from his skies； A day that took
thy heart from me；
If loving thee still more and more； And still so willing to be blind； I
should the bitter knowledge find； That Time had eaten out the core Of love；
and left the empty rind；
If the poor lifeless words； at last； （The soul gone； that was once so
sweet；） Should cease my eager heart to cheat； And crumble back into the
past； And show the whole a vain deceit；
If I should see thee turn away； And know that prayer； and time； and
pain； Could no more thy lost love regain； Than bid the hours of dying day
Gleam in their mid…day noon again；
If I should loose thy hand； and know That henceforth we must dwell
apart； Since I had seen thy love depart； And only count the hours flow By
the dull throbbing of my heart；
If I should gaze and gaze in vain Into thine eyes so deep and clear； And
read the truth of all my fear Half mixed with pity for my pain； And sorrow
for the vanished year；
If not to grieve thee overmuch； I strove to counterfeit disdain； And
weave me a new life again； Which thy life could not mar； or touch； And so
smile down my bitter pain；
The ghost of my dead Past would rise And mock me； and I could not
dare Look to a future of despair； Or even to the eternal skies； For I should
still be lonely there。
All Truth； all Honour； then would seem Vain clouds； which the first
wind blew by； All Trust； a folly doomed to die； All Life； a useless empty
dream； All Lovesince thine had faileda lie。
But see； thy tender smile has cast My fear away： this thought of mine
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Is treason to my Love and thine； For Love is Life； and Death at last
Crowns it eternal and divine！
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VERSE： RECOLLECTIONS
As strangers； you and I are here； We both as aliens stand； Where once；
in years gone by； I dwelt No stranger in the land。 Then while you gaze on
park and stream； Let me remain apart； And listen to the awakened sound
Of voices in my heart。
Here； where upon the velvet lawn The cedar spreads its shade； And by
the flower…beds all around； Bright roses bloom and fade； Shrill merry
childish laughter rings； And baby voices sweet； And by me； on the path； I
hear The tread of little feet。
Down the dark avenue of limes； Whose perfume loads the air； Whose
boughs are rustling overhead； （For the west wind is there；） I hear the
sound of earnest talk； Warnings and counsels wise； And the quick
questioning that brought Such gentle calm replies。
Still the light bridge hangs o'er the lake； Where broad…leaved lilies lie；
And the cool water shows again The cloud that moves on high； … And one
voice speaks； in tones I thought The past for ever kept； But now I know；
deep in my heart Its echoes only slept。
I hear； within the shady porch； Once more； the measured sound Of the
old ballads that were read； While we sat listening round； The starry
passion…flower still Up the green trellice climbs； The tendrils waving seem
to keep The cadence of the rhymes。
I might have striven； and striven in vain； Such visions to recall； Well
known and yet forgotten； now I see； I hear； them all！ The Present pales
before the Past； Who comes with angel wings； As in a dream I stand；
amidst Strange yet familiar things！
Enough； so let us go； mine eyes Are blinded by their tears； A voice
speaks to my soul to…day Of long forgotten years。 And yet the vision in my
heart； In a few hours more； Will fade into the silent past； Silently as
before。
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