IF we must part, this parting is the best: How would you bear to lay Your head on some warm pillow far away -- Your head, so used to lying on my breast? But now your pillow is cold; Your hands have flowers, and not my hands, to hold; Upon our bed the worn bride-linen lies. I have put the death-money upon your eyes, So that you should not wake up in the night. I have bound your face with white; I have washed you, yes, with water and not with tears, -- Those arms wherein I have slept so many years, Those feet that hastened when they came to me, And all your body that belonged to me. I have smoothed your dear dull hair, And there is nothing left to say for you And nothing left to fear or pray for you; And I have got the rest of life to bear: Thank God it is you, not I, who are lying there. If I had died And you had stood beside This still white bed Where the white, scented, horrible flowers are spread, -- I know the thing it is, And I thank God that He has spared you this. If one must bear it, thank God it was I Who had to live and bear to see you die, Who have to live, and bear to see you dead. You will have nothing of it all to bear: You will not even know that in your bed You lie alone. You will not miss my head Beside you on the pillow: you will rest So soft in the grave you will not miss my breast. But I -- but I -- Your pillow and your place -- And only the darkness laid against my face, And only my anguish pressed against my side -- Thank God, thank God, that it was you who died! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE WAY (PHILADELPHIA, 1794) by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON HOW'S MY BOY? by SYDNEY THOMPSON DOBELL CRADLE SONG (TO A TUNE OF BLAKE'S): 1 by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE PSALM 26. JUDICA ME DEUS by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE DREAM ENCONTERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |