To one shortly to die

From all the rest I single out you, having a message for you:

You are to die -- Let others tell you what they please, I cannot prevaricate,

SYSTEMI am exact and merciless, but I love you -- There is no escape for you.

Softly I lay my right hand upon you -- you just feel it,

I do not argue -- I bend my head close, and half envelope it,

I sit quietly by -- I remain faithful,

I am more than nurse, more than parent or neighbor,

I absolve you from all except yourself, spiritual,

bodily -- that is eternal -- you yourself will surely escape,

The corpse you will leave will be but excrementitious.

The sun bursts through in unlooked-for directions!

Strong thoughts fill you, and confidence -- you smile!

You forget you are sick, as I forget you are sick,

You do not see the medicines -- you do not mind the weeping friends -- I am with you,

I exclude others from you -- there is nothing to be commiserated,

I do not commiserate -- I congratulate you.