| 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; | |
| |
| 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! | |
