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I watched thee when the foe was at our side

Ready to strike at him – or thee and me

Were safely hopeless – rather than divide

Aught with one loved save love and liberty

I watched thee on the breakers, when the rock

Received our prow and all was storm and fear

And bade thee cling to me through every shock

This arm would be thy dark, or breast thy bier

I watched thee when the lover glazed thine eyes

Yielding my couch and stretched me on the ground

When overworn with watching, ne’er to rise

From thence if thou an early grave hadnt found

The earthquake came, and rocked the quivering wall

And men and nature reeled as if with wine

Whom did I seek around the lottering half?

For thee, Whose safely first prove lot? Thine

And when convulsive throes denied my breath

The faintest utterance to my fading thought

To thee – to thee – e’en in the gasp of death

My spirit turned, oh! Oftener than it ought

Thus much and more, and yet thou lov’st me not

And never wilt! Love dwells not in our will

Not can I blame thee, though it be my lot

To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still