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I
MY foe was dark, and stern, and grim, | |
| I lived my life in fear of him. | |
| I passed no secret, darkened nook | |
| Without a shuddering, furtive look, | |
| Lest he should take me unawares | 5 |
| In some one of his subtle snares. | |
| Even in broad noon the thought of him | |
| Turned all the blessed sunlight dim, | |
| Stole the rich color from the rose, | |
| The perfume from the elder-blows. | 10 |
| |
| I saw him not, I heard no sound; | |
| But traces everywhere I found | |
| Of his fell plotting. Now, the flower | |
| Most prized lay blasted by his power; | |
| From the locked casket, rent apart, | 15 |
| The jewel dearest to my heart | |
| Was stolen; or, from out the dark, | |
| Some swift blow made my heart its mark. | |
| |
| Sweet eyes I loved grew glazed and dim | |
| That had but caught a glimpse of him; | 20 |
| And ears, were wont to hear each sigh | |
| Of mine, were deafened utterly, | |
| Even to my shrieks; and lips I pressed | |
| Struck a cold horror to my breast. | |
| This hath he done, my enemy. | 25 |
| From him, O God, deliver me! | |
| |
II
I reached but now this place of gloom | |
| Through yon small gateway, where is room | |
| For only one to pass. This calm | |
| Is healing as a Sabbath psalm. | 30 |
| A sound, as if the hard earth slid | |
| Down-rattling on a coffin-lid, | |
| Was in mine ears. Now all is still, | |
| And I am free to fare at will— | |
| Whither? I seem but tarrying | 35 |
| For one who doth a message bring. | |
| |
| Who meets me in the way, whose face | |
| Is radiant with an angel’s grace? | |
| Smiling, he saith in underbreath: | |
| “I am thy foe long dreaded,—Death.” | 40 |
| “O Death, sweet Death, and is it thou | |
| I called mine enemy but now?” | |
| I place my trusting palms in his, | |
| And lift my chill lips for his kiss. | |
| “Press close, be near me to the end, | 45 |
| When all are fled, my one true friend!” | |
| |
| “Yea, friend,” he answereth. “All, and more | |
| Than all I took, do I restore— | |
| Blossom and jewel, youth and hope; | |
| And see, this little key doth ope | 50 |
| The shining portal that we see, | |
| Beyond which—love awaiteth thee.” | |
| “O blinded eyes! Ah, foolish heart! | |
| Adieu, dear Death—one kiss! We part.” | |
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