Chapter I

I have been near the gates of death,
And thought I passed them thro’;
Ev’n now my spirit quivereth,
To think of where it flew!
Oh it was hard to yield my breath;
’Twas hard to breathe anew;
It was hard to come to life again,
And Earth once more to view!
To wake, and find ’twas all in vain,
The death-pang and adieu!