Page:Poems Welby.djvu/176

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168
Yet sometimes I think when my young life is o'er,
And my voice that hath thrilled thee, can thrill thee no more,
That my spirit will steal from its mansion of bliss
To lie on thy bosom, and guard thee in this.

Thou may'st whisper farewell, but thou canst not depart—
I hold thee too close in the folds of my heart;
And that full heart is deeper than aught else can be,
Unless 't is the feeling I cherish for thee.
Thou canst not escape, for though wide be thy bound,
Fond memories like sentinels guard thee around—
Sweet watchers! they'll keep each intruder away,
And hold thee my captive by night and by day.

'T were almost too sweet for such bosoms as ours
To die the calm death of the innocent flowers;
Yet, ah! if the angels will answer my prayers.
The close of our lives will be lovely as theirs—
And, O! if the death-pangs our bosoms must rend,
If they'll mingle my spirit with that of my friend,
I care not how soon they may sever earth's ties,
For, though parted on earth, we'll be linked in the skies.