Promise this

D. Pinkham

Promise This -- When You be Dying --

Some shall summon Me --

Mine belong Your latest Sighing --

Mine -- to Belt Your Eye --

Not with Coins -- though they be Minted

From an Emperor's Hand --

Be my lips -- the only Buckle

Your low Eyes -- demand --

Mine to stay -- when all have wandered --

To devise once more

If the Life be too surrendered --

Life of Mine -- restore --

Poured like this -- My Whole Libation --

Just that You should see

Bliss of Death -- Life's Bliss extol thro'

Imitating You --

Mine -- to guard Your Narrow Precinct --

To seduce the Sun

Longest on Your South, to linger,

Largest Dews of Morn

To demand, in Your low favor

Lest the Jealous Grass

Greener lean -- Or fonder cluster

Round some other face --

Mine to supplicate Madonna --

If Madonna be

Could behold so far a Creature --

Christ -- omitted -- Me --

Just to follow Your dear future --

Ne'er so far behind --

For My Heaven --

Had I not been

Most enough -- denied?