PARTED SOULS by EDWARD HERBERT

I MUST depart, but like to his last breath
That leaves the seat of life, for liberty
I go, but dying, and in this our death,
Where soul and soul is parted, it is I
The deader part that fly away,
While she, alas, in whom before
I liv'd, dies her own death and more,
I feeling mine too much and her own stay.

But since I must depart, and that our love,
Springing at first but in an earthly mould,
Transplanted to our souls now doth remove
Earthly effects, what time and distance would,
Nothing now can our loves allay,
Though as the better spirits will
That both love us and know our ill,
We do not either all the good we may.

Thus when our souls that must immortal be---
For our loves cannot die, nor we (unless
We die not both together)---shall be free
Unto their open and eternal peace,
Sleep, Death's ambassador, and best
Image, doth yours often so show,
That I thereby must plainly know
Death unto us must be freedom and rest.

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

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