WHEN on my sick bed I languish, Full of sorrow, full of anguish, Fainting, gasping, trembling, crying, Panting, groaning, speechless, dying, My soul just now about to take her flight Into the regions of eternal night; Oh tell me you, That have been long below, What shall I do! What shall I think, when cruel Death appears, That may extenuate my fears! Methinks I hear some gentle Spirit say, Be not fearful, come away! Think with thyself that now thou shalt be free, And find thy long-expected liberty; Better thou mayst, but worse thou canst not be Than in this vale of tears and misery. Like Caesar, with assurance then come on, And unamaz'd attempt the laurel crown, That lies on th' other side Death's Rubicon. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAMOMILE TEA by KATHERINE MANSFIELD IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS by LOUIS UNTERMEYER CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWN SCRIVEYN by GEOFFREY CHAUCER FLORAL DECORATIONS FOR BANANAS by WALLACE STEVENS A QUESTION by JOHN MILLINGTON SYNGE A BATTLE BALLAD TO GENERAL J.E. JOHNSTON by FRANCIS ORRERY TICKNOR A PRAIRIE SUNSET by WALT WHITMAN |