A Death-Scene

Use Tab to move through poem lines. Press Enter or Space to select a line. Hold Shift while selecting a second line to create a shared range.

1. "O day! he cannot die
2. When thou so fair art shining!
3. O Sun, in such a glorious sky,
4. So tranquilly declining;
5.  
6. He cannot leave thee now,
7. While fresh west winds are blowing,
8. And all around his youthful brow
9. Thy cheerful light is glowing!
10.  
11. Edward, awake, awake--
12. The golden evening gleams
13. Warm and bright on Arden's lake--
14. Arouse thee from thy dreams!
15.  
16. Beside thee, on my knee,
17. My dearest friend, I pray
18. That thou, to cross the eternal sea,
19. Wouldst yet one hour delay:
20.  
21. I hear its billows roar--
22. I see them foaming high;
23. But no glimpse of a further shore
24. Has blest my straining eye.
25.  
26. Believe not what they urge
27. Of Eden isles beyond;
28. Turn back, from that tempestuous surge,
29. To thy own native land.
30.  
31. It is not death, but pain
32. That struggles in thy breast--
33. Nay, rally, Edward, rouse again;
34. I cannot let thee rest!"
35.  
36. One long look, that sore reproved me
37. For the woe I could not bear--
38. One mute look of suffering moved me
39. To repent my useless prayer:
40.  
41. And, with sudden check, the heaving
42. Of distraction passed away;
43. Not a sign of further grieving
44. Stirred my soul that awful day.
45.  
46. Paled, at length, the sweet sun setting;
47. Sunk to peace the twilight breeze:
48. Summer dews fell softly, wetting
49. Glen, and glade, and silent trees.
50.  
51. Then his eyes began to weary,
52. Weighed beneath a mortal sleep;
53. And their orbs grew strangely dreary,
54. Clouded, even as they would weep.
55.  
56. But they wept not, but they changed not,
57. Never moved, and never closed;
58. Troubled still, and still they ranged not--
59. Wandered not, nor yet reposed!
60.  
61. So I knew that he was dying--
62. Stooped, and raised his languid head;
63. Felt no breath, and heard no sighing,
64. So I knew that he was dead.