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BEFORE THE TOMB |
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 | The poems of Madison Cawein |  |
40
BEFORE THE TOMB
The way led under cedared gloom
Where, o'er the entrance of her tomb,
The moon hung, like a cactus bloom.
Where, o'er the entrance of her tomb,
The moon hung, like a cactus bloom.
I had an hour of night and thin
Sad starlight; and I set my chin
Against the grating and looked in.
Sad starlight; and I set my chin
Against the grating and looked in.
A gleam, like moonlight, through a square
Of opening—I knew not where—
Shone on her coffin resting there.
Of opening—I knew not where—
Shone on her coffin resting there.
And on its oval silver-plate
I read her name and age and date,
And smiled, soft-thinking on my hate.
I read her name and age and date,
And smiled, soft-thinking on my hate.
There was no insect sound to chirr;
No wind to make a little stir:
I stood and looked and thought on her.
No wind to make a little stir:
I stood and looked and thought on her.
41
The gleam stole downward from her head,
Till at her feet it rested, red
On Gothic gold, whose letters said:—
Till at her feet it rested, red
On Gothic gold, whose letters said:—
“God to her love lent a weak reed
Of strength: and gave no light to lead:
Pray for her soul: for it hath need.”
Of strength: and gave no light to lead:
Pray for her soul: for it hath need.”
There was no night-bird's twitter near;
No low, vague water I might hear
To make a small sound in the ear.
No low, vague water I might hear
To make a small sound in the ear.
The gleam, that made a burning mark
Of each dim word, died to a spark;
Then left the tomb and coffin dark.
Of each dim word, died to a spark;
Then left the tomb and coffin dark.
I had a little while to wait;
And prayed with hands against the grate,
And heart that yearned and knew too late.
And prayed with hands against the grate,
And heart that yearned and knew too late.
There was no light below, above,
To point my soul the way thereof,—
The way of hate that led to love.
To point my soul the way thereof,—
The way of hate that led to love.
| The poems of Madison Cawein | |