" O! let me be alone " he said
And he was left alone
None wished to stay — a sense of dread
Came with that hollow tone
Upon his couch he rose to see
If through the chamber wide
There shone an eye to watch how he
How Pain could quell his pride
No all was void — before his bed
A lofty arch disclosed
An iron sky with clouds o'er spread
With clouds where sullen storms reposed
Unwilling still to break, but full
Of awful days to be
When that high concave dense & dull
Should burst convulsively
The light that touched the sufferer's brow
Was brassy faint & wan
Yet shewed it well what sense of woe
Worked in that dying-man
He looked forth on the dreary sky
And back he sank again
But not to sleep or faint his eye
Shewed strength still strove with pain
He spoke for burning fever, wrought
So wildly in his brain
He knew not whether voice or thought
Took up the 'phrenzied strain
He spoke aloud his vision wild
Seemed something to pourtray
He gazed on space then strangely smiled
And bid the phantom stay
Be mine for evermore, I go
Where none shall watch us rove
O heal this anguish, soothe this woe
And then my true heart prove
Shall I not by the cane-brake find
Some home, some nest for thee
Where haply on thy breast reclined
My future heaven shall be
These are my father's halls but here
I feel I may not stay
I grieve not so these arms may bear
Mine Idol too away
And thou wilt go that heavenly smile
Forgives & grants me more
Than hours & months & years of toil
And fondness can restore
O is it Fever brings that form
So near my dying bed
And waves that hand so soft & warm
Above my throbbing head
Is it delirium shews her now
With pitying aspect nigh
I see the dark curls o'er her brow
With love in that deep eye?
Hollow & vapour-like it seems
I see but cannot feel
Like glorious thoughts, like golden dreams
Which youth & Hope reveal
But I must wake I know she said
She never loved but one
And all my adoration paid
In fire she seemed to shun
Again if raised from this death-bed
I'll peril life to try
If she for whom I and bled
Will let me hopeless die
And if an Angels voice divine
From God should bid me tell
In what bright heaven of glorious shine
My spirit longed to dwell
I'd say let it be shadowy night
On earth let stars look down
And let her lips in that dim light
Confess her heart my own
Be it in black & frozen wild
Be it in lonely wood
So she but loved & cheered & smiled
I'll buy such bliss with blood
The white lips of the dying man
Turned whiter still & he
With up-turned eyes & aspect wan
Seemed stricken with agony
He felt himself alone, he knew
All the cold lonely-room around
And he was left alone
None wished to stay — a sense of dread
Came with that hollow tone
Upon his couch he rose to see
If through the chamber wide
There shone an eye to watch how he
How Pain could quell his pride
No all was void — before his bed
A lofty arch disclosed
An iron sky with clouds o'er spread
With clouds where sullen storms reposed
Unwilling still to break, but full
Of awful days to be
When that high concave dense & dull
Should burst convulsively
The light that touched the sufferer's brow
Was brassy faint & wan
Yet shewed it well what sense of woe
Worked in that dying-man
He looked forth on the dreary sky
And back he sank again
But not to sleep or faint his eye
Shewed strength still strove with pain
He spoke for burning fever, wrought
So wildly in his brain
He knew not whether voice or thought
Took up the 'phrenzied strain
He spoke aloud his vision wild
Seemed something to pourtray
He gazed on space then strangely smiled
And bid the phantom stay
Be mine for evermore, I go
Where none shall watch us rove
O heal this anguish, soothe this woe
And then my true heart prove
Shall I not by the cane-brake find
Some home, some nest for thee
Where haply on thy breast reclined
My future heaven shall be
These are my father's halls but here
I feel I may not stay
I grieve not so these arms may bear
Mine Idol too away
And thou wilt go that heavenly smile
Forgives & grants me more
Than hours & months & years of toil
And fondness can restore
O is it Fever brings that form
So near my dying bed
And waves that hand so soft & warm
Above my throbbing head
Is it delirium shews her now
With pitying aspect nigh
I see the dark curls o'er her brow
With love in that deep eye?
Hollow & vapour-like it seems
I see but cannot feel
Like glorious thoughts, like golden dreams
Which youth & Hope reveal
But I must wake I know she said
She never loved but one
And all my adoration paid
In fire she seemed to shun
Again if raised from this death-bed
I'll peril life to try
If she for whom I and bled
Will let me hopeless die
And if an Angels voice divine
From God should bid me tell
In what bright heaven of glorious shine
My spirit longed to dwell
I'd say let it be shadowy night
On earth let stars look down
And let her lips in that dim light
Confess her heart my own
Be it in black & frozen wild
Be it in lonely wood
So she but loved & cheered & smiled
I'll buy such bliss with blood
The white lips of the dying man
Turned whiter still & he
With up-turned eyes & aspect wan
Seemed stricken with agony
He felt himself alone, he knew
All the cold lonely-room around