Poems (Spofford)/Agatha's Song

AGATHA'S SONG.

Sooner or later, the storms shall beat
Over my slumber from head to feet;
Sooner or later, the winds shall rave
In the long grass above my grave.

I shall not heed them where I lie,
Nothing their sound shall signify;
Nothing the head-stone's fret of rain,
Nothing to me the dark day's pain.

Sooner or later, the sun shall shine
With tender warmth on that mound of mine;
Sooner or later, in summer air,
Clover and violet blossom there.

I shall not feel in that deep-laid rest
The sheeted light fall over my breast;
Nor ever note in those hidden hours
The wind-blown breath of the tossing flowers.

Sooner or later, the stainless snows
Shall add their hush to my mute repose;
Sooner or later shall slant and shift
And heap my bed with their dazzling drift.

Chill though that frozen pall shall seem,
Its touch no colder can make the dream
That recks not the sweet and sacred dread
Shrouding the city of the dead.

Sooner or later, the bee shall come
And fill the noon with his golden hum;
Sooner or later, on half-poised wing,
The bluebird's warble about me ring,—

Ring and chirrup and whistle with glee,
Nothing his music means to me;
None of these beautiful things shall know
How soundly their lover sleeps below.

Sooner or later, far out in the night,
The stars shall over me wing their flight;
Sooner or later, the answering dews
Catch the white spark in their silent ooze.

Never a ray shall part the gloom
That wraps me round in the kindly tomb;
Peace shall be perfect for lip and brow
Sooner or later,—but, oh, not now!