LORD BYRON

I WATCHED TREE...

I watched thee when the foe was at our side

Ready to strike at him, or thee and me

Were safety hopelerss rather than divide

Aught with one loved save loved and liberty.

********

I watched thee in the breakers when the rock

Received our prow and all was storm and fear

And bade thee cling to me through every shoc

This arm would be thy bark or breast thy bier.

*********

I watched thee when the fever glazed thime eyes

Yielding my couch and stretched me on the ground

When overwom with watching ne'er to rise

From thence if thou an early grave hadst found

The Earthquake came and rocked the quivering wall.

************

And men and Nature reeled as if with wine

Whom did I seek around the tottering Hall

For thee whose safety first provide for thim

And when convulsive throes denied my breath.

********

The faintest utterance to my fading thouht

To thee to thee even in the grasp of death

My spint tumed Ah! oftener than it ought

Thus much and more and yet thou lov'st me not,

And never wilt Love dwells not in our will

Nor can I blame thee Though it be my lot

To strongly wrongly vainly love thee still.