FEAR

Surely I must have ailed

On that dark night,

Or my childish courage failed

Because there was no light;

Or terror must have come

With his chill wing,

And made my angel dumb,

Or found him slumbering.

Because I could not sleep

Terror began to wake,

Close at my side to creep

And sting me like a snake.

And I was afraid of death,

But when I thought of pain —

O, language no word hath

To recall that thought again!

Into my heart fear crawled

And wreathed close around,

Mortal, convulsive, cold,

And I lay bound.

Fear set before my eyes

Unimaginable pain;

Approaching agonies

Sprang nimbly into my brain.

Just as a thrilling wind

Plucks every mournful wire,

So terror on my wild mind

Fingered, with ice and fire.

O, not death I feared,

But the anguish of the body;

My dizzying passions heard,

Saw my own bosom bloody.

I thought of years of woe,

Moments prolonged to years,

Heard my heart racing so,

Redoubling all those fears.

Yet still I could not cry,

Not a sound the stillness broke;

But the dark stirred, and my

Negligent angel woke.