“Did life roll backward its record, Dear, And show, as they say it does, past things clear? “And was it the innermost heart of the bliss To find out so what a wisdom love is? “Oh, perfect Dead! oh, Dead most dear, I hold the breath of my soul to hear; “I listen—as deep as to horrible hell, As high as to heaven!—and you do not tell! “There must be pleasures in dying, Sweet, To make you so placid from head to feet! “I would tell you, Darling, if I were dead, And ’twere your hot tears upon my brow shed. “I would say, though the angel of death had laid His sword on my lips to keep it unsaid. “You should not ask, vainly, with streaming eyes, Which in Death’s touch was the chiefest surprise; “The very strangest and suddenest thing Of all the surprises that dying must bring.” * * * * Ah! foolish world! Oh! most kind Dead! Though he told me, who will believe it was said? Who will believe that he heard her say, With the soft rich voice, in the dear old way:— “The utmost wonder is this,—I hear, And see you, and love you, and kiss you, Dear; “I can speak now you listen with soul, not ear; If your soul could see, it would all be clear “What a strange delicious amazement is Death, To be without body and breathe without breath. “I should laugh for joy if you did not cry; Oh, listen! Love lasts!—Love never will die. “I am only your Angel who was your Bride; And I see, that though dead, I have never died.” THE GLOAMING.