His Last Words

Voices that I cannot hear, Breathed as love might sigh, Smiles I cannot see, caressing, Charm me—pass me by:

Not the dear friends I have known, Imaged in my brain, Not remembered smiles and voices, Brought to life again;—

Not disordered dreams that rise From the formless air, Nor the angels of my childhood, When I knelt in prayer—

Ah! sweet nurse, ’tis you,—stoop down, For the night grows dark— I thought it was my mother— Did you hear that?—Hark!