Living

Song II

by Maurice Maeterlinck 1862–1949

Translated by Jethro Bithell (1911) · From Contemporary Belgian Poetry (1911)

Living

And if he come back some day,
What shall be said to him?--
One for him waited, say,
Until her eyes grew dim....

And if again he spake,
And did not know me more?--
Like a sister answer make,
He might be suffering sore....

And if he would be told
Where you are dwelling now?--
Give him my ring of gold,
And bend your silent brow....

And if he miss the clock's tick,
And see the dust on the floor?--
Show him the lamp's burnt wick,
Show him the open door....

And if his last he saith,
And ask how you fell asleep?--
Tell him I smiled in death,
For fear lest he should weep....

MLA

Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song II.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/16/.

Chicago

Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song II.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/16/.

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