Death & Dying

Come Love or Death

by Will Henry Thompson 1848–1918

From An American Anthology, 1787-1900, ed. Edmund Clarence Stedman (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1900)

Death & Dying

O lifted face of mute appeal!
Poor tongueless pantomime of prayer!
O sullen sea, whose deeps conceal
The children of despair!
O heart that will not look above!
Poor staggering feet that seek the wave!
I would come quick, if I were Love,
And I had power to save.

O sinking sunset loneliness
Aflame in hot, unmoving eyes!
Poor wan lips, creeping in distress
To cover up your cries!
O broken speech, and sobbing breath!
Poor restless and uncertain will!
I would come quick, if I were Death,
And I had power to kill!

MLA

Thompson, Will Henry. “Come Love or Death.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/thompson_wh/1/.

Chicago

Thompson, Will Henry. “Come Love or Death.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/thompson_wh/1/.

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