If I Should Die To-night

by B. S. [Arabella Eugenia Smith]

Source of witness transcribed: The Western Reserve Chronicle (Warren, Ohio)

Date of witness transcribed: 9 July 1873

Notes about this poem: "If I Should Die To-night" was printed in at least 217 newspapers during the nineteenth century. It can be found using ID 297880 in this table of most widely-reprinted poems.

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• If I should die to-night,
• My friends would look upon my quiet face,
• Before they laid it in its resting place,
• And deem that death had left it almost fair;
• And, laying snow white flowers against my hair,
• Would smooth it down with tearful tenderness,
• And fold my hands with lingering caress,

• Poor hands, so empty and so cold to-night!

• If I should die to-night,
• My friends would call to mind, with loving thought.
• Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought;
• Some gentle word the frozen lips had said;
• Errands on which the willing feet had sped,
• The memory of my selfishness and pride,
• My hasty words, would all be put aside,

• And so I should be loved and mourned to-night.

• If I should die to-night,
• Even hearts enstranged would turn once more to me,
• Recalling other days remorsefully;
• The eyes that chill me with averted glance
• Would look upon me as of yore, perchance,
• And soften in the old, familiar way,
• For who could war with dumb, unconscious clay?

• So I might rest, forgiven of all, to-night.

• Oh, friends, I pray to-night,
• Keep not your kisses for my dead, cold brow,
• The way is lonely, let me feel them now,
• Think gently of me; I am travel worn;
• My faltering feet are pierced with many a thorn,
• Forgive, oh, hearts estranged, I plead!
• When dreamless rest is mine I shall not need
• The tenderness for which I long to-night.

—B.S., in Christian Union.