Volume II Part 34 (2/2)

Her place was in the dust, too deep to hear.

VI.

Could she not wait to catch their answering breath?

Was she content, content with ocean's sound Which dashed its mocking infinite around One thirsty for a little love?--beneath Those stars content, where last her song had gone,-- They mute and cold in radiant life, as soon Their singer was to be, in darksome death?[8]

VII.

Bring your vain answers--cry, ”We think of thee!”

How think ye of her? warm in long ago Delights? or crowned with budding bays? Not so.

None smile and none are crowned where lieth she, With all her visions unfulfilled save one, Her childhood's, of the palm-trees in the sun-- And lo! their shadow on her sepulchre!

VIII.

”Do ye think of me as I think of you?”-- O friends, O kindred, O dear brotherhood Of all the world! what are we that we should For covenants of long affection sue?

Why press so near each other when the touch Is barred by graves? Not much, and yet too much Is this ”Think of me as I think of you.”

IX.

But while on mortal lips I shape anew A sigh to mortal issues, verily Above the unshaken stars that see us die, A vocal pathos rolls; and HE who drew All life from dust, and for all tasted death, By death and life and love appealing, saith _Do you think of me as I think of you?_

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Her lyric on the Polar Star came home with her latest papers.

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

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