BITTERNESS OF DEATH

AH, stern, cold man,

How can you lie so relentless hard

While I wash you with weeping water!

Do you set your face against the daughter

Of life? Can you never discard

Your curt pride's ban?

You masquerader!

How can you shame to act this part

Of unswerving indifference to me?

You want at last, ah me!

To break my heart

Evader!

You know your mouth

Was always sooner to soften

Even than your eyes.

Now shut it lies

Relentless, however often

I kiss it in drouth.

It has no breath

Nor any relaxing. Where,

Where are you, what have you done?

What is this mouth of stone?

How did you dare

Take cover in death!