ON RECEIVING AN ACCOUNT THAT HIS ONLY SISTER'S DEATH WAS
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he tear which mourn'd a brother's fate scarce dry--Pain after pain, and woe succeeding woe--Is my heart destin'd for another blow?O my sweet sister! and must thou too die?Ah! how has Disappointment pour'd the tear 5O'er infant Hope destroy'd by early frost!How are ye gone, whom most my soul held dear!Scarce had I lov'd you ere I mourn'd you lost;Say, is this hollow eye, this heartless pain,Fated to rove thro' Life's wide cheerless plain-- 10Nor father, brother, sister meet its ken--My woes, my joys unshared! Ah! long ere thenOn me thy icy dart, stern Death, be prov'd;--Better to die, than live and not be lov'd! 1791. FOOTNOTES: [20:1] First published in 1834. The 'brother' (line 1) was Luke HermanColeridge who died at Thorverton in 1790. Anne Coleridge, the poet'ssister (the only daughter of his father's second marriage), died inMarch 1791. LINENOTES:
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