Christina Rossetti

Dec 5, 1830 - Dec 29, 1894

 

In The Round Tower At Jhansi

by Christina Rossetti

June 8, 1857.

A Hundred, a thousand to one; even so;
Not a hope in the world remained: --
The swarming howling wretches below
Gained and gained and gained.

Skene looked at his pale young wife: --
Is the time come? -- The time is come! --
Young, strong, and so full of life:
The agony struck them dumb.

Close his arm about her now,
Close her cheek to his,
Close the pistol to her brow --
God forgive them this!

Will it hurt much? -- No, mine own:
I wish I could bear the pang for both.

I wish I could bear the pang alone:
Courage, dear, I am not loth.

Kiss and kiss: It is not pain
Thus to kiss and die. One kiss more.

And yet one again.
Good bye. -- Good bye.

Source:

Goblin Market and Other Poems
Copyright 1865
Macmillan And Co.London and Cambridge