Appendix to Lazarus, 5

I saw them laughing, smiling gladly,--
I saw them ruin’d utterly;
I heard them weeping, dying sadly,--
And yet I utter’d not a sigh.

Each corpse I as a mourner follow’d,
Yea, to the churchyard follow’d I,
And then--with appetite I swallow’d,
My noontide meal, I’ll not deny.

I now recall that band long perish’d,
With feelings sadden’d and oppress’d:
Like sudden glowing love once cherish’d
They strangely storm within my breast.

And most ’tis Juliet’s tears so burning
That in my memory spring to light;
My sadness turns to ceaseless yearning,
I call upon her day and night.

In feverish dreams, with soft emotion
The faded flower oft comes again;
Methinks a posthumous devotion
To my love’s glow it offers then.

O gentle phantom, clasp me often
With strong and ever stronger power;
Unto my lips press thine, and soften
The bitterness of this last hour.