"THE SHADOW OF DEATH."

O SWEET blue eyes, and hair of gold

That tosses in the wind's light breath!

O red lips! - But her hands are cold -

What light shall be when I am old,

If darkens now the shadow of death?

The thing I dread, thou dost not see;

No voice to thee a message saith

That thro' all bitter years to be

Too harshly must come home to me

When I behold the shadow of death.

O sweet soul, must it be in vain,

The prayer of agony love saith?

My heart is full of useless pain;

They never see the light again,

Who once have seen the shadow of death.

Is there no utmost star can save?

Have all the winds of heaven no breath

To bring thee the poor boon I crave?

Can no hand reach across the grave?

A shadow sunders life and death!