Poems (Edwards)/The Time to Die

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

THE TIME TO DIE.

Let me die in the Spring, said a sweet young girl,
  As she looked on the valleys green;
Let me die in the Spring, and her cheek grew bright,
  As she- gazed on the joyous scene;
Let me die when the flowers are opening fresh,
  When the zephyrs in music sigh:
When the birds sing sweetly on every hill,
And the sunlight gleams on the laughing rill;
  In the Spring time let me die.

Let me die, let me die in the Summer time,
  Said the youth as he looked around
On the verdant leaves, and the shades that lay
  So still on the cool, damp ground;
Let me die when the birds are filling the air
  With their rich and varied chime;
When the waves are raising their loudest notes,
And the breeze o'er the flowers in music floats;
  Let me die in the Summer time.

Let me die, let me die in the Autumn time,
  Said the strong man, as he stood
On a leaf-strewn Isle, and gazed far down
  Through the shade of the lonely wood:
When the leaves are falling upon my way,
  When the flowers are dying fast;
When the winds sweep by with a solemn sigh,
And the clouds float, dream-like, along the sky,
  O then let me breath my last!

Let me die, let me die in the Winter time,
  The way-worn pilgrim said,
As he pressed his hand to his withered brow,
  And bowed his whitened head.
Let me die when the storm is raging loud,
  And clouds obscure the sky;
I have wandered long in this wint'ry way,
My step is weak, and my head is gray;
  It is time for me to die.

The Christian stood on the Jordan of death,
  And smiled as the waves swept by,
Father! he said, if thou willest it,
  Let thy suffering servant die;
Let me pass away from the ills of life,
  To a fairer and brighter clime;
Let me find a holier place of rest,
Let me lean my head on thy loving breast;
  Let me die in thine own good time.