Poems (Barrett)/A Valediction

by Elizabeth Barrett Barrett

A Valediction.

God be with thee, my beloved,—God be with thee!
   Else alone thou goest forth,
   Thy face unto the north.—
Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee,
   Looking equal in one snow!
   While I who try to reach thee,
   Vainly follow, vainly follow,
   With the farewell and the hollo,
   And cannot reach thee so.
   Alas! I can but teach thee—
God be with thee, my beloved,—God be with thee!

Can I teach thee, my beloved,—ca n I teach thee?
   If I said, Go left or right,
   The counsel would be light,—
The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee!
   My right would show like left;
   My raising would depress thee,—
   My choice of light would blind thee,—
   Of way, would leave behind thee,—
   Of end, would leave bereft!
   Alas! I can but bless thee—
May God teach thee, my beloved,—may God teach thee!

Can I bless thee, my beloved,—can I bless thee?
   What blessing word can I,
   From mine own tears, keep dry?
What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee?
   My good reverts to ill;
   My calmnesses would move thee,—
   My softnesses would prick thee,—
   My bindings up would break thee,
   My crownings, curse and kill.
   Alas! I can but love thee—
May God bless thee, my beloved,—may God bless thee!

Can I love thee, my beloved,—can I love thee?
   And is this like love, to stand
   With no help in my hand,
When strong as death I fain would watch above thee?
   My love-kiss can deny
   No tear that falls beneath it:
   Mine oath of love can swear thee
   From no ill that comes near thee,—
   And thou diest while I breathe it,
   And I—I can but die!
May God love thee, my beloved,—may God love thee!