To a Young Lady

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

[Miss Lavinia Poole] on her recovery from a fever.

Why need I say, Louisa dear!
How glad I am to see you here,
A lovely convalescent;
Risen from the bed of pain and fear,
And feverish heat incessant.

The sunny showers, the dappled sky,
The little birds that warble high,
Their vernal loves commencing,
Will better welcome you than I
With their sweet influencing.

Believe me, while in bed you lay,
Your danger taught us all to pray:
You made us grow devouter!
Each eye looked up and seemed to say,
How can we do without her?

Besides, what vexed us worse, we knew
They have no need of such as you
In the place where you were going:
This World has angels all too few,
And Heaven is overflowing!

March 31, 1798