A little while (my life is almost set!) I fain would pause along the downward way, Musing an hour in this sad sunset-ray, While, Sweet! our eyes with tender tears are wet: A little hour I fain would linger yet. A little while I fain would linger yet, All for love’s sake, for love that cannot tire; Though fervid youth be dead, with youth’s desire, And hope has faded to a vague regret, A little while I fain would linger yet. A little while I fain would linger here: Behold! who knows what strange, mysterious bars ’Twixt souls that love may rise in other stars? Nor can love deem the face of death is fair: A little while I still would linger here. A little while I yearn to hold thee fast, Hand locked in hand, and loyal heart to heart; (O pitying Christ! those woeful words, “We part!”) So ere the darkness fall, the light be past, A little while I fain would hold thee fast. A little while, when light and twilight meet,— Behind, our broken years; before, the deep Weird wonder of the last unfathomed sleep,— A little while I still would clasp thee, Sweet, A little while, when night and twilight meet. A little while I fain would linger here; Behold! who knows what soul-dividing bars Earth’s faithful loves may part in other stars? Nor can love deem the face of death is fair: A little while I still would linger here.
A Little While I Fain Would Linger Yet
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