Classic Poem

As once, at midnight deep, I lay with sleepless eyes,
These words between the moth and light did me surprise.
The moth kisses the flame, and says, with tender sigh:
“Dear radiance! I rejoice from love for thee to die.
My love, thou diest not, yet anxious groans and strong
Break loudly from thy heart, through all the darkness long!”
The bright flame says, “O moth! whom love to me attracts,
Know that I also burn with love for this sweet wax.
Must I not groan, as more my lover melting sinks,
And from his life my fatal fire still deeper drinks?”
As thus she spake, the hot tears coursed her yellow cheek,
And with each tear crackled a separation shriek.
Then from her mouth these further words of pleading fall:
“Poor moth! boasting of love, say not thou lov'st at all.
Ah! how thou moan'st when the fierce heat one wing has seared;
I stand till my whole form in flame has disappeared.”
And so she talked till morning shone the room about;
When lo! a maiden came to put the candle out;
It flickered up,—the wick a smoking relic lay.
'Tis thus, O gentle hearts! that true love dies away.