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THE WIND of death that softly blows | |
The last warm petal from the rose, | |
The last dry leaf from off the tree, | |
To-night has come to breathe on me. | |
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There was a time I learned to hate, | 5 |
As weaker mortals learn to love; | |
The passion held me fixed as fate, | |
Burned in my veins early and late, | |
But now a wind falls from above | |
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The wind of death that silently | 10 |
Enshroudeth friend and enemy. | |
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There was a time my soul was thrilled | |
By keen ambitions whip and spur; | |
My master forced me where he willed, | |
And with his power my life was filled, | 15 |
But now the old time pulses stir | |
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How faintly in the wind of death, | |
That bloweth lightly as a breath! | |
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And once, but once at Loves dear feet, | |
I yield strength, and life, and heart; | 20 |
His look turned bitter into sweet, | |
His smile made all the world complete; | |
The wind blows loves like leaves apart | |
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The wind of death that tenderly | |
Is blowing twixt my love and me. | 25 |
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O wind of death, that darkly blows | |
Each separate ship of human woes | |
Far out on a mysterious sea, | |
I turn, I turn my face to thee. | |
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