To a Lady, I

I have been near the gates of death, And thought I passed them thro’; Ev’n now my spirit quivereth, To think of where it flew! Oh it was hard to yield my breath; ’Twas hard to breathe anew; It was hard to come to life again, And Earth once more to view! To wake, and find ’twas all in vain, The death-pang and adieu!