'Your prayers you have said, and you've wished good night: <br />What cause is there yet keeps my darling awake? <br />This throb in your bosom proclaims some affright <br />Disturbs your composure. Can innocence quake? <br /> <br /> <br />'Why thus do you cling to my neck, and enfold me, <br />What fear unimparted your quiet devours?' <br />'O mother, there's reason-for Susan has told me, <br />A dead body lies in the room next to ours.' <br /> <br /> <br />'I know it; and, but for forgetfulness, dear, <br />I meant you the coffin this day should have seen, <br />And read the inscription, and told me the year <br />And day of the death of your poor old Nurse Green.' <br /> <br /> <br />'O not for the wealth of the world would I enter <br />A chamber wherein a dead body lay hid, <br />Lest somebody bolder than I am should venture <br />To go near the coffin and lift up the lid.' <br /> <br /> <br />'And should they do so and the coffin uncover, <br />The corpse underneath it would be no ill sight; <br />This frame, when its animal functions are over, <br />Has nothing of horror the living to fright. <br /> <br /> <br />To start at the dead is preposterous error, <br />To shrink from a foe that can never contest; <br />Shall that which is motionless move thee to terror; <br />Or thou become restless, 'cause they are at rest? <br /> <br /> <br />To think harm of her our good feelings forbid us <br />By whom when a babe you were dandled and fed; <br />Who living so many good offices did us, <br />I ne'er can persuade me would hurt us when dead. <br /> <br /> <br />But if no endeavour your terrors can smother, <br />If vainly against apprehension you strive, <br />Come, bury your fears in the arms of your mother; <br />My darling, cling close to me, I am alive.'<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/nurse-green/
