Madison Julius Cawein

Shadows

1

Ha! help! - 'twas palpable!
 A ghost that thronged
Up from the mind or hell
 Of one I wronged!

2

'Tis past and - silence! - naught! -
 A vision born
Of the scared mind o'erwrought
 With dreams forlorn:

3

The bastard brood of Death
 And Sleep that wakes
Grim fancies with its breath,
 And reason shakes.

4

Would that the grave _could_ rot
 Like flesh the soul,
Gnaw through with worms and not
 Leave it thus whole,

5

More than it was in earth
 Beyond the grave,
Much more in death than birth
 To conscience slave!