Death & Dying

The Tragic Mary, II

by Michael Field 1846–1914 (Bradley) and 1862–1913 (Cooper)

From A Selection from the Poems of Michael Field (1923)

Death & Dying

I could wish to be dead!
Too quick with life were the tears I shed,
Too sweet for tears is the life I led;
And ah, too lonesome my marriage-bed!
I could wish to be dead.

I could wish to be dead.
For just a word that rings in my head;
Too dear, too dear are the words he said,
They must never be remembered.
I could wish to be dead.

I could wish to be dead:
The wish to be loved is all mis-read,
And to love, one learns when one is wed.
Is to suffer bitter shame; instead
I could wish to be dead.

✦ ✦ ✦

From The Tragic Mary, as marked in the 1923 Selection.

MLA

Field, Michael. “The Tragic Mary, II.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/134/.

Chicago

Field, Michael. “The Tragic Mary, II.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/134/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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