Page:Verses.djvu/146

134 The bond of love that held two hates united, They plead still unrequited, They grow and bear the thorn — Oh, better never born!

Better if thou wert dead, my dear, if thou wert dead; No woman’s moan but mine should hush thy sleeping. When other eyes should close, their watch forgetting, Mine vain regretting still its watch was keeping; When other hearts grew weary by death’s gates. Stole to their loves and hates. Mine still lived for its laughter In what might come hereafter.

Good-bye! I would not have thee dead. We grasped at stars That only God could take: we tried to make A paradise for keeping Upon an earth where He had wrecked the garden; Giving no pardon, baptized us all in weeping. So pass; good-bye! Some other woman’s love. Oh! not as great as mine, will find above Some happier fate to choose you Than mine that did refuse you.