All things within this fading world hath end, <br />Adversity doth still our joys attend; <br />No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, <br />But with death's parting blow are sure to meet. <br />The sentence past is most irrevocable, <br />A common thing, yet oh, inevitable. <br />How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend, <br />How soon't may be thy lot to lose thy friend, <br />We both are ignorant, yet love bids me <br />These farewell lines to recommend to thee, <br />That when the knot's untied that made us one, <br />I may seem thine, who in effect am none. <br />And if I see not half my days that's due, <br />What nature would, God grant to yours and you; <br />The many faults that well you know I have <br />Let be interred in my oblivious grave; <br />If any worth or virtue were in me, <br />Let that live freshly in thy memory <br />And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harmes, <br />Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms, <br />And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains <br />Look to my little babes, my dear remains. <br />And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me, <br />These O protect from stepdame's injury. <br />And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse, <br />With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse; <br />And kiss this paper for thy dear love's sake, <br />Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.<br /><br />Anne Bradstreet<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-the-birth-of-one-of-her-children/
