 | Early and late poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
THE RIVALS.
You need not stay by my bed, Tommy,
My wants are all gone by,
And something 's got in my head, Tommy,
That makes me wish to die.
My wants are all gone by,
And something 's got in my head, Tommy,
That makes me wish to die.
You need not kiss my face, Tommy,
Nor keep your hand on my brow,
For see in my eyes the shadow lies,
Of another lover, now.
Nor keep your hand on my brow,
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Of another lover, now.
Jennie is out at the gate, Tommy—
How fair she looks to-day!
My forehead is burning up, Tommy,
You must take your hand away!
How fair she looks to-day!
My forehead is burning up, Tommy,
You must take your hand away!
She wears your rose in her hair, Tommy—
'T is not so sweet as her breath,
Nay, do not kiss my mouth, Tommy,
I'm almost choked to death!
'T is not so sweet as her breath,
Nay, do not kiss my mouth, Tommy,
I'm almost choked to death!
She is coming up this way, Tommy—
I hear her footstep fall;—
Straighten me, sweet, from head to feet,
And turn me toward the wall.
I hear her footstep fall;—
Straighten me, sweet, from head to feet,
And turn me toward the wall.
I am saying foolish things, Tommy,
I am sick and crazed, you know,
But mind, 't is all myself, Tommy,
Not you, that makes me so.
I am sick and crazed, you know,
But mind, 't is all myself, Tommy,
Not you, that makes me so.
I wish I had better words, Tommy,
To thank you while I live,
For being so true, that I to you
Have nothing to forgive.
To thank you while I live,
For being so true, that I to you
Have nothing to forgive.
Don't fret when I am dead, Tommy,—
'T is sweeter thus to part,
Than to be upon my feet, Tommy,
If Jennie had your heart.
'T is sweeter thus to part,
Than to be upon my feet, Tommy,
If Jennie had your heart.
| Early and late poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |