Absent upon Public Employment <br /> <br />My head, my heart, mine eyes, my life, nay more, <br />My joy, my magazine, of earthly store, <br />If two be one, as surely thou and I, <br />How stayest thou there, whilst I at Ipswich lie? <br />So many steps, head from the heart to sever, <br />If but a neck, soon should we be together. <br />I, like the Earth this season, mourn in black, <br />My Sun is gone so far in's zodiac, <br />Whom whilst I 'joyed, nor storms, nor frost I felt, <br />His warmth such fridged colds did cause to melt. <br />My chilled limbs now numbed lie forlorn; <br />Return; return, sweet Sol, from Capricorn; <br />In this dead time, alas, what can I more <br />Than view those fruits which through thy heart I bore? <br />Which sweet contentment yield me for a space, <br />True living pictures of their father's face. <br />O strange effect! now thou art southward gone, <br />I weary grow the tedious day so long; <br />But when thou northward to me shalt return, <br />I wish my Sun may never set, but burn <br />Within the Cancer of my glowing breast, <br />The welcome house of him my dearest guest. <br />Where ever, ever stay, and go not thence, <br />Till nature's sad decree shall call thee hence; <br />Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone, <br />I here, thou there, yet both but one.<br /><br />Anne Bradstreet<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-letter-to-her-husband/
