No rest! no rest on this bleak earth for me;
A thousand fancies flit across my brain;
Dim phantoms of the shadowy past I see-
I know, oh God! I know I am insane.
Deep in my breast the secret I will hide-
To those who love me ‘twould give bitter pain;
Foes would rejoice should evil ere betide,
And ’tis an awful curse to be insane.
Ho! ho! a light! I say, my wife, a light!
This heavy darkness crushes my poor heart;
And, darling, sit beside my bed to-night-
Thy kind words comfort to my soul impart.
Ah, do not start, when my deep groans you hear:
I stagger, struck with agony so fell;
See there! see there! ’tis gone; you need not fear;
You cannot see the Devil’s mystic spell.
I hear a footstep! Halt! I say, who’s there?
The wind, you answer; ah, I’m not insane!
You can’t deceive me with your words so fair-
There! there! I hear the sound approach again.
The light! I say! I tell you I will see-
It is a thief, with murderous thought intent;
You can’t prevent me-but, ah, woe is me!
Are you, too, on some hidden mischief bent?
Forgive me, darling; I did wildly rave;
I think I am a little crazed to-night.
Stay with me, pet-wife, you are good and brave;
The spell will pass with morning’s dawning bright.
Press your soft hand upon my aching head-
Weeping again? Why will you always weep?
Your eyes their brightness with the tears will shed:
There, good night, darling! now, I fain would sleep.
(Mary Eliza Perine Tucker Lambert)
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