MAY AND DEATH.

MAY AND DEATH.

1.

I WISH that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Ay, and, for me, the fourth part too.

2.

A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps !
There must be many a pair of friends
Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm
Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

3.

So, for their sakes, be May still May!
Let their new time, as mine of old,
Do all it did for me: I bid

Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

4.

Only, one little sight, one plant,

Woods have in May, that starts up green Save a sole streak which, so to speak,

Is spring's blood, spilt its leaves between,—

5.

That, they might spare; a certain wood

Might miss the plant; their loss were small:

But I,-whene'er the leaf grows there,

Its drop comes from my heart, that's all.

PROSPICE.