Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care, Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair; Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep! Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years! Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue, Over my heart, in the days that are flown, Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold, Let it drop over my forehead to-night, Mother, dear mother, the years have been long Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem SHE AND HE BY EDWIN ARNOLD "Come away; "She is dead!" they said to him. They smoothed her tresses of dark brown hair; Over her eyes, which gazed too much, With a tender touch they closed up well About her brows, and her dear, pale face And drew on her white feet her white silk shoes;- And over her bosom they crossed her hands; "Come away," they said, And then there was Silence; "God understands!" and nothing there But the Silence- and scents of eglantere, And jasmine, and roses, and rosemary; For they said, "As a lady should lie, lies she!" And they held their breath as they left the room, With a shudder to glance at its stillness and gloom. But he who loved her too well to dread The sweet, the stately, the beautiful dead,— He lit his lamp, and took the key, And turn'd it! Alone again — he and she! He and she; but she would not speak, Though he kiss'd, in the old place, the quiet cheek; He and she; yet she would not smile, Though he call'd her the name that was fondest erewhile. He and she; and she did not move To any one passionate whisper of love! Then he said, "Cold lips! and breast without breath! Is there no voice? - no language of death "Dumb to the ear and still to the sense But to heart and to soul distinct, - intense? "See, now, I listen with soul, not ear- "Was it the infinite wonder of all, "Or was it a greater marvel to feel "Was the miracle greatest to find how deep, Beyond all dreams, sank downward that sleep? "Did life roll backward its record, Dear, And show, as they say it does, past things clear? "And was it the innermost heart of the bliss To find out so what a wisdom love is? "Oh, perfect Dead! oh, Dead most dear, I hold the breath of my soul to hear; "I listen as deep as to horrible hell, "There must be pleasures in dying, Sweet, "I would tell you, Darling, if I were dead, And 'twere your hot tears upon my brow shed. "I would say though the angel of death had laid His sword on my lips to keep it unsaid. "You should not ask, vainly, with streaming eyes, Which in Death's touch was the chiefest surprise; "The very strangest and suddenest thing Of all the surprises that dying must bring." Ah! foolish world! Oh! most kind Dead! Though he told me, who will believe it was said? Who will believe that he heard her say, With the soft rich voice, in the dear old way: I hear, "The utmost wonder is this, Dear; "I can speak, now you listen with soul alone; If your soul could see, it would all be shown. "What a strange delicious amazement is Death, To be without body and breathe without breath. "I should laugh for joy if you did not cry; Oh, listen! Love lasts! - Love never will die. "I am only your Angel who was your Bride; And I know, that though dead, I have never died." WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY BY SIR ROBERT AYTON I loved thee once, I'll love no more, |