| “WHEN he was here alive, Eileen, | |
| There was a word you might have said; | |
| So never mind what I have been, | |
| Or anything,—for you are dead. | |
| |
| “And after this when I am there | 5 |
| Where he is, you’ll be dying still. | |
| Your eyes are dead, and your black hair,— | |
| The rest of you be what it will. | |
| |
| “’Twas all to save him? Never mind, | |
| Eileen. You saved him. You are strong. | 10 |
| I’d hardly wonder if your kind | |
| Paid everything, for you live long. | |
| |
| “You last, I mean. That’s what I mean. | |
| I mean you last as long as lies. | |
| You might have said that word, Eileen,— | 15 |
| And you might have your hair and eyes. | |
| |
| “And what you see might be Lisette, | |
| Instead of this that has no name. | |
| Your silence—I can feel it yet, | |
| Alive and in me, like a flame. | 20 |
| |
| “Where might I be with him to-day, | |
| Could he have known before he heard? | |
| But no—your silence had its way, | |
| Without a weapon or a word. | |
| |
| “Because a word was never told, | 25 |
| I’m going as a worn toy goes. | |
| And you are dead; and you’ll be old; | |
| And I forgive you, I suppose. | |
| |
| “I’ll soon be changing as all do, | |
| To something we have always been; | 30 |
| And you’ll be old.… He liked you, too, | |
| I might have killed you then, Eileen. | |
| |
| “I think he liked as much of you | |
| As had a reason to be seen,— | |
| As much as God made black and blue. | 35 |
| He liked your hair and eyes, Eileen.” | |
