Till the End

ISHOULD not dare to leave my friend,

      Because—because if he should die

While I was gone, and I—too late—

Should reach the heart that wanted me;

If I should disappoint the eyes

That hunted, hunted so, to see,

And could not bear to shut until

They "noticed" me—they noticed me;

If I should stab the patient faith

So sure I'd come—so sure I'd come,

It listening, listening, went to sleep

Telling my tardy name,—

My heart would wish it broke before,

Since breaking then, since breaking then,

Were useless as next morning's sun,

Where midnight frosts had lain!