Weep him dead and mourn as you may,
Me, I sing as I must:
Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble
What would have sunk to dust!
Blessed be Death, that took my love
And buried him in the sea,
Where never a lie nor a bitter word
Will out of his mouth at me.
This I have to hold to my heart,
This to take by the hand:
Sweet we were for a summer month
As the sun on the dry white sand;
Mild we were for a summer month
As the wind from over the weirs.
And blessed be Death, that hushed with salt
The harsh and slovenly years!
Who builds her a house with love for timber
Builds her a house of foam.
And I'd rather be bride to a lad gone down
Than widow to one safe home.