Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/Wife to Husband

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4552505Poems — Wife to HusbandChristina Georgina Rossetti

WIFE TO HUSBAND.
PARDON the faults in me,
For the love of years ago;
  Good-bye.
I must drift across the sea,
I must sink into the snow,
  I must die.

You can bask in this sun,
You can drink wine, and eat
  Good-bye.
I must gird myself and run,
Though with unready feet:
  I must die.

Blank sea to sail upon,
Cold bed to sleep in:
  Good-bye.
While you clasp, I must be gone
For all your weeping:
  I must die.

A kiss for one friend,
And a word for two,—
  Good-bye:—
A lock that you must send,
A kindness you must do:
  I must die.

Not a word for you,
Not a lock or kiss,
  Good-bye.
We, one, must part in two;
Verily death is this:
  I must die.