All things within this fading world hath end, Adversity doth still our joys attend; No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, But with death's parting blow is sure to meet. The sentence past is most irrevocable, A common thing, yet oh inevitable. How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend, How soon't may be thy Lot to lose thy friend, We are both ignorant, yet love bids me These farewell lines to recommend to thee, That when that knot's untied that made us one, I may seem thine, who in effect am none. And if I see not half my dayes that's due, What nature would, God grant to yours and you; The many faults that well you know I have Let be interr'd in my oblivious grave; If any worth or virtue were in me, Let that live freshly in thy memory And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harms, Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms. And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains Look to my little babes[,] my dear remains. And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me[,] These o protect from step Dames injury. And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse, With some sad sighs honour my absent Herse; And kiss this paper for thy loves dear sake, Who with salt tears this last Farewel did take. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TAPS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE EAGLE SWIFT by ADAM OF SAINT VICTOR AS NIGHT COMES by CHARLES G. ADAMS TWO SONNETS FROM NEW YORK: TOWERS by ADELAIDE NICHOLS BAKER THE FOREST POOL by GRACE BLAINE IN DEATH by MARY EMILY NEELEY BRADLEY SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 42 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |