| |
| 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. | 5 |
| |
| 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. | 10 |
| |
| 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. | 15 |
| |
| 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. | 20 |
| |
| 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. | 25 |
| |
| 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. | 30 |
| |
