Repentance

YESTERDAY, when in slumber light and chill, Drenched in cold sweats, upon my couch I lay, While on my panting cheeks two roses burned And on my brow sat mortal pallor gray,— Then on my soul, athirst for love, there fell My mother’s sobs, who wept beside my bed. When I unclosed my dim and weary eyes, I saw her tears of pity o’er me shed. I felt upon my face my mother’s kiss, A sacred last remembrance, on death’s shore ; All her great sorrow in that kiss was breathed — And it was I who caused her anguish sore ! Ah, then a tempest rose and shook my soul, A storm of bitter grief, that blasts and sears ; Then I poured forth that torrent dark. My God, Forgive me ! I had seen my mother’s tears.