He spoke some words! What was it that he said? His head rolls over. The man is dead! What was it that he said? Something about "no more" it seemed to me. Whom shall we notify? Go tell the police! Here! wait, I overlooked some writing--yes, A name is on this letter--why, look here, It's EDGAR ALLAN POE!--I know that name-- He wrote a poem once about sleigh bells-- His brow looks whiter, bigger than it did. Cover him with a sheet--I'll tell the police! NEITHER FAITH NOR BEAUTY CAN REMAIN Neither faith nor beauty can remain: Change is our life from hour to hour, Pain follows after pain, As ruined flower lies down with ruined flower. * * * * * Now you are mine. But in a day to be Beyond the seas, in cities strange and new To-day will be a memory Of a day ephemerally true. * * * * * Last night with cheek pressed close to cheek Through the brief hours we slept. It must be always so, I heard you speak, Love found, forever must be kept. * * * * * But already we were changed, even as the day Invisibly transforms its light. We prayed together then for dawn's delay, Praying, praying through the night. * * * * * Against the change which takes all loveliness, The truth our desperate hearts would keep, The memory to be, when comfortless, Save for the memory we shall yearn for sleep; * * * * * Against the sinking flame which no more lights Our faces, neither any more desired Through desireless days and nights, And senses fast expiring and expired. THE END Printed in the United States of America. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Inconsistent hyphenation left as is. pg vii Shakespeare changed to Shakspeare for consistency pg 48 martydom changed to martyrdom End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Starved Rock, by Edgar Lee Masters