One word -- 'tis all I ask of thee; One word -- and that is little now That I have learned thy wrong of me; And thou too art unfaithful -- thou! -- O thou sweet poison, sweetest death, O honey between serpent's teeth, Breathe on me with thy scorching breath! The last poor hope is fleeting now, And with it life is ebbing fast; I gaze upon thy cold white brow, And loathe and love thee to the last. And still thou keepest silence -- still Thou look'st on me -- for good or ill Speak out, that I may know thy will. Thou weepest, woman, and art pale! Weep not, for thou shalt soon be free; My life is ending like a tale That was -- but never more shall be. O blessed moments, ye fleet fast, And soon the latest shall be past, And she will be content at last. Nay, tremble not -- I have not cursed Thy house or mine, or thee or me; The moment that I saw thee first, The moment that I first loved thee, Curse them! alas! -- I can but bless, In this mine hour of heaviness; -- Nay, sob not so in thy distress! I have been harsh, thou sayst of me; -- God knows my heart was never so; It never could be so to thee -- And now it is too late -- I know Thy grief -- forgive me, love! 'tis o'er, For I shall never trouble more Thy life that was so calm before. I pardon thee -- mayst thou be blest! Say, wilt thou sometimes think of me? Oh may I, from my happy rest, Still look with love on thine and thee, And may I pray for thee alway, And for thy Love still may I pray, Waiting the everlasting Day. Stoop over me -- ah! this is death! I scarce can see thee at my side; Stoop lower -- let me feel thy breath, O thou, mine own, my promised bride! Pardon me, love -- I pardon thee, And may our pardon sealed be Throughout the long eternity. The pains of death my senses cover: -- Oh! for His Sake Who died for men, Be thou more true to this thy lover Than thou hast been to me -- Amen! And if he chide thee wrongfully, One little moment think on me, And thou wilt bear it patiently. And now, O God, I turn to Thee: Thou Only, Father, canst not fail; Lord, Thou hast tried and broken me, And yet Thy Mercy shall prevail. Saviour, through Thee I am forgiven -- Do Thou receive my soul, blood-shriven, O Christ, Who art the Gate of Heaven! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPRINGTIME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FLUTE-PRIEST SONG FOR RAIN; CEREMONIAL AT THE SUN SPRING by AMY LOWELL THE VALSE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR EPIGRAM: 101 by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS THE MORAL FABLES: THE PROLOG by AESOP SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 5. ETERNAL by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |