'Two hours ago at the Northern quay'--
He offers me food, and to rest and sit--
I have left the house--I am on my way--
I have hail'd a cab and jump'd into it.

O faster! O faster! O yet more fast!
There's nothing on earth but driving like this:
I _know_ it will all come right at the last,
But I am not certain what the right is.

There is a river and there is a boat
(I read it all in a far-away tale)--
O faster! O faster! you do but float;
Pull away with your oars, shake out your sail!

A woman, I know, must sail in a skiff,
And reach a ship ere it reaches the sea;
But it _is_ a wonderful matter if
The woman who sits here is really me!

O faster! O faster! you scarcely stir--
The ship has grown large that was but a speck!
We have reached the ship--we have boarded her--
And I SEE who is standing on her deck!

I see who stands there, I hear and see
His incredulous joy and startled cry,
His beautiful wonder at sight of me;
I feel his embraces, and then--I die!

PART IV.

I know not how long I was lying dead;
I know not what happen'd day after day:
But I know whose breast supported my head;
I know in whose arms I passively lay.

I know whose voice I was hearing again;
With no vivid emotion through me sent,
But only with that sweet absence of pain
The young call repose, and the old, content.

I know of the presence that o'er me shed
Through all that I suffer'd a perfect ease;
I know all this because I am dead--
I suppose the dead can know what they please!

Can I be dead? It is foolish to die,
Earth shining brighter than any bright star.
Death, do you _know_ it is Harry and I?
Heaven is here--must I seek it afar?

Death, seize thy prey from the world-weary track;
Let not the happy by thee be remov'd;
Slowly and softly and sweetly come back,
Life that she loves to a girl that is lov'd!

* * * * *

Cut through the waves, happy ship 'neath my feet;
Scatter thy prow with beneficent spray!
Never an admiral leading a fleet
Felt as triumphant as I do to-day!

Ocean around us, and Heaven above;
Hands clasp'd together in innocent bliss;
Heart meeting heart with the fulness of love--
Can there be anything sweeter than this?

Seeking a home on a far-distant shore,
Mid gigantic forests and splendid flow'rs,
Where sorrow cannot bewilder us more,
Or fear r