Elizabeth Barrett Browning — The Poets Vow Showing How The Vow Was Broken

I. The poet oped his bolted door        &nbspThe midnight sky to view; A spirit-feel was in the air Which seemed to touch his spirit bare        &nbspWhenever his breath he drew; And the stars a liquid softness had, As alone their holiness forbade        &nbspTheir falling with the dew. II. They shine upon the steadfast hills,        &nbspUpon the swinging tide, Upon the narrow track of beach        &nbspAnd the murmuring pebbles pied: They shine on every lovely place, They shine upon the corpse's face,        &nbspAs it were fair beside. III. It lay before him, humanlike,        &nbspYet so unlike a thing! More awful in its shrouded pomp        &nbspThan any crownèd king: All calm and cold, as it did hold        &nbspSome secret, glorying. IV. A heavier weight than of its clay        &nbspClung to his heart and knee: As if those folded palms could strike        &nbspHe staggered groaningly, And then o'erhung, without a groan, The meek close mouth that smiled alone,        &nbspWhose speech the scroll must be.