DIGBY MACWORTH DOLBEN

"Sister Death"

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My sister Death! I pray thee come to me

   Of thy sweet charity,

And be my nurse but for a little while;

   I will indeed lie still,

And not detain thee long, when once is spread,

   Beneath the yew, my bed:

I will not ask for lilies or for roses;

   But when the evening closes,

Just take from any brook a single knot

   Of pale Forget-me-not,

And lay them in my hand, until I wake,

   For his dear sake;

(For should he ever pass and by me stand,

   He yet might understand—)

Then heal the passion and the fever

   With one cool kiss, for ever.