| |
| I COULD have stemmed misfortune’s tide, | |
| And borne the rich one’s sneer,— | |
| Have braved the haughty glance of pride, | |
| Nor shed a single tear; | |
| I could have smiled on every blow | 5 |
| From life’s full quiver thrown, | |
| While I might gaze on thee, and know | |
| I should not be alone. | |
| |
| I could—I think I could—have brooked, | |
| E’en for a time, that thou | 10 |
| Upon my fading face hadst looked | |
| With less of love than now; | |
| For then I should at least have felt | |
| The sweet hope still my own | |
| To win thee back, and whilst I dwelt | 15 |
| On earth, not been alone. | |
| |
| But thus to see from day to day | |
| Thy brightening eye and cheek, | |
| And watch thy life-sands waste away, | |
| Unnumbered, slow, and meek; | 20 |
| To meet thy smiles of tenderness, | |
| And catch the feeble tone | |
| Of kindness, ever breathed to bless, | |
| And feel I ’ll be alone; | |
| |
| To mark thy strength each hour decay, | 25 |
| And yet thy hopes grow stronger, | |
| As, filled with heavenward trust, they say | |
| Earth may not claim thee longer; | |
| Nay, dearest, ’t is too much—this heart | |
| Must break when thou art gone: | 30 |
| It must not be; we must not part; | |
| I could not live alone. | |
| |
