I watched thee
when the foe was
at our side
Ready to strike
at him, or thee
and me
Were safety
hopeless rather
than divide
Aught with one
loved, save love
and liberty.
I watched thee
in the breakers
when the rock
Received our
prow and all was
storm and fear
And bade thee
cling to me
through every
shock
This arm would
be thy bark or
breast thy bier.
I watched thee
when the fever
glazed thine
eyes
Yielding my
couch, and
stretched me on
the ground
When overworn
with watching,
ne'er to rise
From thence, if
thou an early
grave hadst
found.
The Earthquake
came and rocked
the quivering
wall
And men and
Nature reeled as
if with wine
Whom did I seek
around the
tottering Hall
For thee, whose
safety first
provide for
thine.
And when
convulsive
throes denied my
breath
The faintest
utterance to my
fading thought
To thee, to
thee, even in
the grasp of
death
My spirit
turned. Ah!
oftener than it
ought.
Thus much and
more, and yet
thou lov'st me
not,
And never wilt,
Love dwells not
in our will
Nor can I blame
thee, though it
be my lot
To strongly,
wrongly, vainly,
love thee still.
