Romantic+poem+5-+I+watched+thee

I watched thee

I watched thee when the foe was at our side

Ready to strike at him, or thee and me

Were safety hopeless rather than divide

Aught with one loved, save love and liberty.

I watched thee in the breakers when the rock

Received our prow and all was storm and fear

And bade thee cling to me through every shock

This arm would be thy bark or breast thy bier.

I watched thee when the fever glazed thine eyes

Yielding my couch, and stretched me on the ground

When overworn with watching, ne'er to rise

From thence, if thou an early grave hadst found.

The Earthquake came and rocked the quivering wall

And men and Nature reeled as if with wine

Whom did I seek around the tottering Hall

For thee, whose safety first provide for thine.

And when convulsive throes denied my breath

The faintest utterance to my fading thought

To thee, to thee, even in the grasp of death

My spirit turned. Ah! oftener than it ought.

Thus much and more, and yet thou lov'st me not,

And never wilt, Love dwells not in our will

Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot

To strongly, wrongly, vainly, love thee still.

Lord Byron