Dickens' Lament
To her kin Catherine was I in flesh married
To my young beloved Mary was my soul wed
Too long that eve at my play we all three tarried
And all of six hours later was my soulmate dead.
In my aching arms where now lifeless she did lay
Catherine calmly the obsequies did prepare
Where I did but reflect in grief upon that play
"Is She My Wife?" which thought I found so hard to bear.
From her rich dark tresses I plucked a precious lock
To be ever after kept, held close to my breast
Her ring on my finger her death struggled to mock
While oft in my sad heart her spirit I addressed.
Without her who was so young,beautiful and good
The magic of family began soon to fade
Her memory my mind nourished better than food
The fine weeds did I cherish of my once fair maid.
My broken heart in my empty life for her will sigh
But Catherine sadly less and less means to me
Whene'er death comes,with my Mary I'll surely lie
And from my earthbound wife will I be ever free.
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