I TRUST that never more in this world's shade Thine eyes will be upon me: never more Thy face come back to me. For thou hast made My whole life sore: And I might curse thee, if thou camest again To mock me with the memory in thy face Of days I would had been not. So much pain Hath made me base -- Enough to wreak the wrath of years of wrong Even on so frail and weak a thing as thou! Fare hence, and be forgotten....Sing thy song, And braid thy brow, And be beloved, and beautiful, -- and be In beauty baleful still...a Serpent Queen To others not yet curst by kissing thee, As I have been. But come not nigh me till my end be near, And I have turned a dying face toward heaven. Then, if thou wilt, approach, -- and have no fear, And be forgiven. Close, if thou wilt, mine eyes, and smooth my hair: Fond words will come upon my parting breath. Nor, having desolated life, forbear Kind offices to death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SABBATH OF THE SOUL by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LESSER EPISTLES: TO BERNARD LINTOTT by JOHN GAY SESTINA: ALTAFORTE by EZRA POUND PSALM 49 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE ECHOES OF SPRING: 10 by MATHILDE BLIND EVENING MYSTERY by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN TO A FRIEND IN THE NAVY, SICK AT HOME by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |