WE roam, my love and I, 'Mid the rich woodland grasses, Where, through dense clouds of greenery, The softened sunshine passes; But near a rivulet's lonely wave We come half startled, on -- a grave! We pause, my love and I, Each thinking, "@3Who@1 reposes Here, in the forest tranquilly, Beneath these sylvan roses?" When, 'twixt the wild flowers' tangled flame, Wind-parted, we beheld -- a name. We mark, my love and I, With thoughts that swiftly vary, Of doubt, surprise, solemnity, The flickering name of "Mary;" My love's own name! -- but flickering @3there@1. Each letter burns a hint of fear. We shrink, my love and I, Pierced by prescient sorrow, "To think, my sweet! that @3thou@1 may'st die To-night or else to-morrow!" Each murmurs sadly, under breath: "O love, malignly watched by death!" We turn, my love and I, From that strange grave together, And o'er our spirits' darkened sky Roll mists of mournful weather; With boding grief our hearts are rife -- Death's shadow steals 'twixt love and life! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 11 by EZRA POUND THE EXPOSED NEST by ROBERT FROST THE LAST WISH by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON MY GARDEN by RALPH WALDO EMERSON IN TIME OF GRIEF by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE LOVE-LILY by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE BIRD WITH THE COPPERY, KEEN CLAWS by WALLACE STEVENS |