| Andrew Macphail, comp. The Book of Sorrow. 1916. | | | XIII. Farewell
Messages | | By Francis Thompson (1859–1907) |
| | | WHAT shall I your true-love tell, | |
| Earth-forsaking maid? | |
| What shall I your true-love tell, | |
| When life’s spectre ’s laid? | |
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| ‘Tell him that, our side the grave, | 5 |
| Maid may not conceive | |
| Life should be so sad to have, | |
| That ’s so sad to leave!’ | |
| |
| What shall I your true-love tell, | |
| When I come to him? | 10 |
| What shall I your true-love tell— | |
| Eyes growing dim! | |
| |
| ‘Tell him this, when you shall part | |
| From a maiden pined; | |
| That I see him with my heart, | 15 |
| Now my eyes are blind.’ | |
| |
| What shall I your true-love tell? | |
| Speaking-while is scant. | |
| What shall I your true-love tell, | |
| Death’s white postulant? | 20 |
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| ‘Tell him—love, with speech at strife, | |
| For last utterance saith: | |
| I, who loved with all my life, | |
| Love with all my death.’ | | | | |
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