| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | June 8 | | In the Round Tower at Jhansi | | By Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894) |
| | | | Commemorating the Massacre of Europeans at Jhansi, June 8, 1857. |
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A HUNDRED, a thousand to one; even so; | |
| Not a hope in the world remained; | |
| The swarming, howling wretches below | |
| Gained and gained and gained. | |
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| Skene looked at his pale young wife:— | 5 |
| “Is the time come?”—“The time is come!”— | |
| Young, strong and so full of life: | |
| The agony struck them dumb. | |
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| Close his arm about her now, | |
| Close her cheek to his, | 10 |
| Close the pistol to her brow— | |
| God forgive them this! | |
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| “Will it hurt much?”—“No, mine own: | |
| I wish I could bear the pang for both.” | |
| “I wish I could bear the pang alone; | 15 |
| Courage, dear, I am not loath.” | |
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| Kiss and kiss: “It is not pain | |
| Thus to kiss and die. | |
| One kiss more.”—“And yet one again.”— | |
| “Good by.”—“Good by.” | 20 | | |
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