Explore "The Dying Queen" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"I would meet death awake."
The strength that bore her on for years / Was ebbing fast away, / And o'er the pale and life-worn face, / Death's solemn shadows lay.
With tender love and gentle care, / Friends gathered round her bed, / And for her sake each footfall hushed / The echoes of its tread.
They knew the restlessness of death / Through every nerve did creep, / And carefully they tried to lull / The dying Queen to sleep.
In vain she felt Death's icy hand / Her failing heart-strings shake; / And, rousing up, she firmly said, / "I'd meet my God awake."
Awake, I've met the battle's shock, / And born the cares of state; / Nor shall I take your lethean cup, / And slumber at death's gate.
Did I not watch with eyes alert, / The path where foes did tend; / And shall I veil my eyes with sleep, / To meet my God and friend?
Nay, rather from my weary lids, / This heavy slumber shake, / That I may pass the mystic vale, / And meet my God awake.