I SHOULD not dare to leave my friend, | |
Because—because if he should die | |
While I was gone, and I—too late— | |
Should reach the heart that wanted me; | |
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If I should disappoint the eyes | 5 |
That hunted, hunted so, to see, | |
And could not bear to shut until | |
They “noticed” me—they noticed me; | |
|
If I should stab the patient faith | |
So sure I ’d come—so sure I ’d come, | 10 |
It listening, listening, went to sleep | |
Telling my tardy name,— | |
|
My heart would wish it broke before, | |
Since breaking then, since breaking then, | |
Were useless as next morning’s sun, | 15 |
Where midnight frosts had lain! | |