Dramatis Personæ/May and Death
MAY AND DEATH.
MAY AND DEATH.
1.I wish that when you died last May,Charles, there had died along with youThree 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 friendsWho, arm in arm, deserve the warmMoon-births and the long evening-ends.
3.So, for their sake, be May still May!Let their new time, as mine of old,Do all it did for me: I bidSweet sights and sounds throng manifold.
4.Only, one little sight, one plant,Woods have in May, that starts up greenSave a sole streak which, so to speak,Is spring's blood, spilt its leaves between,—
5.That, they might spare; a certain woodMight miss the plant; their loss were small:But I,—whene'er the leaf grows there,Its drop comes from my heart, that's all.