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PARTING BELOVED, you must go—ask not to stay, | |
| You are a mother and your duties call; | |
| And we, who have so long been all in all, | |
| Must put the human side of life away. | |
| For one brief moment let us stand and pray, | 5 |
| Sealed in the thought that whatso’er befall | |
| We, who have known the freedom and the thrall, | |
| Of a great love, in death shall feel its sway— | |
| You, who must live, because of his dear need, | |
| You are the one to bear the harder part:— | 10 |
| Nay, do not cling—’tis time to say good-by, | |
| Think of me then but as a spirit freed— | |
| Flesh of my Flesh, and Heart of my own Heart, | |
| The love we knew has made me strong to die. | |
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TOGETHER I cannot leave you, ask me not to go, | 15 |
| Love of my youth and all my older years; | |
| We, who have met together smiles or tears, | |
| Feeling that each did but make closer grow | |
| The union of our hearts—Ah say not so | |
| That Death shall find us separate. All my fears | 20 |
| Are but to lose you. Life itself appears | |
| A trifling thing—But one great truth I know, | |
| When heart to heart has been so closely knit | |
| That Flesh has been one Flesh and Soul one Soul, | |
| Life is not life if they are rent apart— | 25 |
| And death unsevered is more exquisite. | |
| As we, who have known much, shall read the whole | |
| Of Life’s great secret on each other’s heart! | |
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