WED OR DEAD?
YOU may talk of the bridal marches
And say that you saw him wed,
But I heard through the chancel's arches
A dirge for the early dead;
And say that you saw him wed,
But I heard through the chancel's arches
A dirge for the early dead;
You may tell of a gay reception;
Of "blushes," of "bride and groom,"
But I saw through the rich deception
A pall and the hearse and the tomb;
Of "blushes," of "bride and groom,"
But I saw through the rich deception
A pall and the hearse and the tomb;
You tell me that Reuben has married
A fortune, position and birth;
I tell you that Reuben has buried
Himself beneath dust of the earth;
A fortune, position and birth;
I tell you that Reuben has buried
Himself beneath dust of the earth;
I could hear above all intoning
Of Priest and the organ's refrain,
The cold clods on his coffin-lid falling,—
Position and fortune and gain:
Of Priest and the organ's refrain,
The cold clods on his coffin-lid falling,—
Position and fortune and gain:
(32)
