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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LYRICAL INTERLUDE: 34 by HEINRICH HEINE

First Line: WHEN IN THE TOMB, MY MISTRESS FAIR
Last Line: STILL CLASP'D IN EMBRACES ENTHRALLING.
Subject(s): DEATH; GRAVES; KISSES; LOVE; DEAD, THE; TOMBS; TOMBSTONES;

WHEN in the tomb, my mistress fair,
The chilly tomb, thou must hide thee,
I'll soon descend to rejoin thee there,
And fondly nestle beside thee.

I wildly will press thee, embrace thee, and kiss
My pale, cold, fearful-to-see love!
I'll tremble, weep, shout with rapturous bliss,
And soon be a corpse like thee, love.

The dead will arise, when midnight is nigh,
And dance in airy troops lightly;
But we in the tomb will quietly lie,
Thine arms embracing me tightly.

The dead will arise, when the loud trump of doom
To bliss or to torment is calling;
But regardless of all, we'll remain in the tomb,
Still clasp'd in embraces enthralling.



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