11ty Imbricate

Delayed till she had ceased to know

• DELAYED till she had ceased to know,

• Delayed till in its vest of snow

• Her loving bosom lay.

• An hour behind the fleeting breath,

• Later by just an hour than death,—

• Oh, lagging yesterday!

• Could she have guessed that it would be;

• Could but a crier of the glee

• Have climbed the distant hill;

• Had not the bliss so slow a pace,—

• Who knows but this surrendered face

• Were undefeated still?

• Oh, if there may departing be

• Any forgot by victory

• In her imperial round,

• Show them this meek apparelled thing,

• That could not stop to be a king,

• Doubtful if it be crowned!