 | A Day in the Woods |  |
136
THE DYING WIDOW.
“Those cold white curtain-folds displace—
That form I would no longer see;
They have assumed my husband's face,
And all night long it looked at me:
I wished it not to go away,
Yet trembled while it did remain;
I closed my eyes, and tried to pray—
Alas! I tried in vain.
That form I would no longer see;
They have assumed my husband's face,
And all night long it looked at me:
I wished it not to go away,
Yet trembled while it did remain;
I closed my eyes, and tried to pray—
Alas! I tried in vain.
“I know my head is very weak,
I've seen what fancy can create;
I long have felt too low to speak,—
Oh! I have thought too much of late—
I have a few requests to make:
Just wipe these blinding tears away;—
I know your love, and for my sake
You will them all obey.
I've seen what fancy can create;
I long have felt too low to speak,—
Oh! I have thought too much of late—
I have a few requests to make:
Just wipe these blinding tears away;—
I know your love, and for my sake
You will them all obey.
“My child has scarce a month been dead,
My husband has been dead but five;
What dreary hours since then have fled!
I wonder I am yet alive.
My child! through him Death aimed the blow,
And from that hour I did decline;
His coffin, when my head lies low,
I would have placed on mine.
My husband has been dead but five;
What dreary hours since then have fled!
I wonder I am yet alive.
273
And from that hour I did decline;
His coffin, when my head lies low,
I would have placed on mine.
“Those letters which my husband sent
Before he perished in the deep;—
What hours in reading them I've spent,
Whole nights, in which I could not sleep:
Oh! they are worn with many a tear,
Scarce fit for other eyes to see;
But oft when sad they did me cheer,—
Pray bury them with me.
Before he perished in the deep;—
What hours in reading them I've spent,
Whole nights, in which I could not sleep:
Oh! they are worn with many a tear,
Scarce fit for other eyes to see;
But oft when sad they did me cheer,—
Pray bury them with me.
“This little cap my Henry wore,
The very day before he died;
And I shall never kiss it more—
When dead you'll place it by my side;
I know these thoughts are weak, but oh!
What will a vacant heart not crave?
And as none else can love them so,
I'll bear them to my grave.
The very day before he died;
And I shall never kiss it more—
When dead you'll place it by my side;
I know these thoughts are weak, but oh!
What will a vacant heart not crave?
And as none else can love them so,
I'll bear them to my grave.
“The miniature that still I wear,
When dead I would not have removed:
'Tis on my heart—oh leave it there,
To find its way to where I loved;
My husband threw it round my neck,
Long, long before he called me bride;
And I was told that 'midst the wreck
He kissed mine ere he died.
When dead I would not have removed:
'Tis on my heart—oh leave it there,
To find its way to where I loved;
My husband threw it round my neck,
Long, long before he called me bride;
And I was told that 'midst the wreck
He kissed mine ere he died.
274
“There's little that I care for now,
Except this simple wedding ring;
I faithfully have kept my vow,
And feel not an accusing sting:
I never yet have laid it by
A moment since my bridal day;
Where he first placed it let it lie:
Oh! take it not away!
Except this simple wedding ring;
I faithfully have kept my vow,
And feel not an accusing sting:
I never yet have laid it by
A moment since my bridal day;
Where he first placed it let it lie:
Oh! take it not away!
“Now wrap me in my wedding gown,
You scarce can think how cold I feel;
And smooth my ruffled pillow down:
Oh! how my clouded senses reel!
Great God! support me to the last!
Oh, let more air into the room:
The struggle now is nearly past,
Husband and child! I come!”
You scarce can think how cold I feel;
And smooth my ruffled pillow down:
Oh! how my clouded senses reel!
Great God! support me to the last!
Oh, let more air into the room:
The struggle now is nearly past,
Husband and child! I come!”
| A Day in the Woods | |