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A Dead Year.

by Jean Ingelow

I took a year out of my life and story -

A dead year, and said, "I will hew thee a tomb!

'All the kings of the nations lie in glory;'

Cased in cedar, and shut in a sacred gloom;

Swathed in linen, and precious unguents old;

Painted with cinnabar, and rich with gold.

"Silent they rest, in solemn salvatory,

Sealed from the moth and the owl and the flitter-mouse -

Each with his name on his brow.

'All the kings of the nations lie in glory,

Every one in his own house:'

Then why not thou?

"Year," I said, "thou shalt not lack

Bribes to bar thy coming back;

Doth old Egypt wear her best

In the chambers of her rest?

Doth she take to her last bed

Beaten gold, and glorious red?

Envy not! for thou wilt wear

In the dark a shroud as fair;

Golden with the sunny ray

Thou withdrawest from my day;

Wrought upon with colors fine,

Stolen from this life of mine;

Like the dusty Lybian kings,

Lie with two wide open wings

On thy breast, as if to say,

On these wings hope flew away;

And so housed, and thus adorned,

Not forgotten, but not scorned,

Let the dark for evermore

Close thee when I close the door;

And the dust for ages fall

In the creases of thy pall;

And no voice nor visit rude

Break thy seal'd solitude."

I took the year out of my life and story,

The dead year, and said, "I have hewed thee a tomb

'All the kings of the nations lie in glory,'

Cased in cedar, and shut in a sacred gloom;

But for the sword, and the sceptre, and diadem,

Sure thou didst reign like them."

So I laid her with those tyrants old and hoary,

According to my vow;

For I said, "The kings of the nations lie in glory,

And so shalt thou!"

"Rock," I said, "thy ribs are strong.

That I bring thee guard it long;

Hide the light from buried eyes -

Hide it, lest the dead arise."

"Year," I said, and turned away,

"I am free of thee this day;

All that we two only know,

I forgive and I forego,

So thy face no more I meet,

In the field or in the street."

Thus we parted, she and I;

Life hid death, and put it by:

Life hid death, and said, "Be free

I have no more need of thee."

No more need! O mad mistake,

With repentance in its wake!

Ignorant, and rash, and blind,

Life had left the grave behind;

But had locked within its hold

With the spices and the gold,

All she had to keep her warm

In the raging of the storm.

Scarce the sunset bloom was gone,

And the little stars outshone,

Ere the dead year, stiff and stark,

Drew me to her in the dark;

Death drew life to come to her,

Beating at her sepulchre,

Crying out, "How can I part

With the best share of my heart?

Lo, it lies upon the bier,

Captive, with the buried year.

O my heart!" And I fell prone,

Weeping at the seal'd stone;

"Year among the shades," I said,

"Since I live, and thou art dead,

Let my captive heart be free,

Like a bird to fly to me."

And I stayed some voice to win,

But none answered from within;

And I kissed the door - and night

Deepened till the stars waxed bright

And I saw them set and wane,

And the world turn green again.

"So," I whispered, "open door,

I must tread this palace floor -

Seal'd palace, rich and dim.

Let a narrow sunbeam swim

After me, and on me spread

While I look upon my dead;

Let a little warmth be free

To come after; let me see

Through the doorway, when I sit

Looking out, the swallows flit,

Settling not till daylight goes;

Let me smell the wild white rose,

Smell the woodbine and the may;

Mark, upon a sunny day,

Sated from their blossoms rise,

Honey-bees and butterflies.

Let me hear, O! let me hear,

Sitting by my buried year,

Finches chirping to their young,

And the little noises flung

Out of clefts where rabbits play,

Or from falling water-spray;

And the gracious echoes woke

By man's work: the woodman's stroke,

Shout of shepherd, whistlings blithe.

And the whetting of the scythe;

Let this be, lest shut and furled

From the well-beloved world,

I forget her yearnings old,

And her troubles manifold,

Strivings sore, submissions meet,

And my pulse no longer beat,

Keeping time and bearing part

With the pulse of her great heart.

"So; swing open door, and shade

Take me; I am not afraid,

For the time will not be long;

Soon I shall have waxen strong -

Strong enough my own to win

From the grave it lies within."

And I entered. On her bier

Quiet lay the buried year;

I sat down where I could see

Life without and sunshine free,

Death within. And I between,

Waited my own heart to wean

From the shroud that shaded her

In the rock-hewn sepulchre -

Waited till the dead should say,

"Heart, be free of me this day" -

Waited with a patient will -

AND I WAIT BETWEEN THEM STILL.

I take the year back to my life and story,

The dead year, and say, "I will share in thy tomb.

'All the kings of the nations lie in glory;'

Cased in cedar, and shut in a sacred gloom!

They reigned in their lifetime with sceptre and diadem,

But thou excellest them;

For life doth make thy grave her oratory,

And the crown is still on thy brow;

'All the kings of the nations lie in glory,'

And so dost thou."