Starlit Sepulchre

There! in the glist'ning starlit sepulchre,

Floating along by the gaping aperture--

There was Verandah, my love of yesteryear

As if alive, but she's gone. Then she drew near

Gently caressing my neck like a whiff of mist

She made me wonder, was I a somnambulist?

Was it a dream, or had Vera returned to me?

I longed to hold her, but feared for my sanity

She stood before me; she smiled and her lips were red

Was she alive? Or a ghost? Was she in my head?

She held my gaze, and I could not look away

I seemed to totter, to float like Verandah--Sway,

Lost in my dreams--and then she was kissing me,

Mouths seemed to merge, we were joined eternally

There! In the glist'ning, starlit grave we stood,

Howling as one to the moon, as children should

Then she and I were retired in the hole

Sleepless forever, as bells began to toll

Ever we lie as one. Ever we dream as one.

Ashes, ashes, life's all done.