Say a mass for my soul's repose, my brother, <br />Say a mass for my soul's repose, I need it, <br />Lovingly lived we, the sons of one mother, <br />Mine was the sin, but I pray you not heed it. <br /> <br />Dark were her eyes as the sloe and they called me, <br />Called me with voice independent of breath. <br />God! how my heart beat; her beauty appalled me, <br />Dazed me, and drew to the sea-brink of death. <br /> <br />Lithe was her form like a willow. She beckoned, <br />What could I do save to follow and follow, <br />Nothing of right or result could be reckoned; <br />Life without her was unworthy and hollow. <br /> <br />Ay, but I wronged thee, my brother, my brother; <br />Ah, but I loved her, thy beautiful wife. <br />Shade of our father, and soul of our mother, <br />Have I not paid for my love with my life? <br /> <br />Dark was the night when, revengeful, I met you, <br />Deep in the heart of a desolate land. <br />Warm was the life-blood which angrily wet you <br />Sharp was the knife that I felt from your hand. <br /> <br />Wept you, oh, wept you, alone by the river, <br />When my stark carcass you secretly sank. <br />Ha, now I see that you tremble and shiver; <br />'T was but my spirit that passed when you shrank! <br /> <br />Weep not, oh, weep not, 't is over, 't is over; <br />Stir the dark weeds with the turn of the tide; <br />Go, thou hast sent me forth, ever a rover, <br />Rest and the sweet realm of heaven denied. <br /> <br />Say a mass for my soul's repose, my brother, <br />Say a mass for my soul, I need it. <br />Sin of mine was it, and sin of no other, <br />Mine was it all, but I pray you not heed it.<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-murdered-lover/
