| |
| WHEN the baby died, so fair was she— | |
| Like a lily an angel had dropped for me— | |
| That I said to myself: “She is only asleep,” | |
| And I wondered that others would over her weep: | |
| And I stooped and kissed her, half dreaming she | 5 |
| Would open her blue eyes unto me, | |
| And laugh again as on yesterday, | |
| And dimple and croon in the dear old way— | |
| When the baby died. | |
| |
| When the baby died I could not weep, | 10 |
| And I said: “She is only asleep—asleep | |
| She will wake ere long and I shall hear | |
| The prattle I love beat on my ear.” | |
| And I smoothed all gently the golden hair, | |
| And I would not believe she was otherwhere | 15 |
| As I cried, “My darling, look up and see!” | |
| But only the night wind answered me— | |
| When the baby died. | |
| |
| When the baby died—sometimes I start | |
| From a dream at night with a longing heart, | 20 |
| For I fancy I hear through the silence wide | |
| A prattle of words from the babe that died. | |
| Then my hands fell down, though empty they be, | |
| For I know that my darling has gone from me, | |
| And the night creeps into a somber day, | 25 |
| While my heart cries out: “Come back, I pray”— | |
| Since the baby died. | |
| |
