Streak upon streak of turquoise in a sheet of heavy gray, 
A space of shining silver where the clouds are torn away,
Stars growing pale in heaven o'erhead, and, lower down,
A fringe of amber touches the roofs of the sleeping town. 
Shadowy wains and waggoners steal slow and softly by, 
There is no sudden swish of whips, there is no carter's cry. 
Upon the lips that cease from speech, the lids that fain would rest, 
A little wind comes whispering out of the lightless west.
Lamps in the road are quenched and die because the day's begun, 
Although there's half an hour to wait ere men salute the sun. 
Steps of a homeless woman sound hollow down the street, 
Laugh of a man rings noisily where man and woman meet, 
And change with languid eyes and lips a fire of idle words, 
A cry of foolish laughter. Then silence; and the birds. 

All things within this fading world hath end, 
Adversity doth still our joyes attend;
No tyes so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, 
But with deaths parting blow is sure to meet. 
The sentence past is most irrevocable,
A common thing, yet oh inevitable;
How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend, 
How soon't may be thy Lot to lose thy friend, 
We both are ignorant, yet love bids me 
These farewell lines to recommend to thee,
That when that knot's unty'd that made us one,
I may seem thine, who in effect am none.
And if I see not half my dayes that's due,
What nature would, God grant to yours and you; 
The many faults that well you know I have,
Let be interr'd in my oblivious grave;
If any worth or virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory 
And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harms, 
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms: 
And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains 
Look to my little babes my dear remains.
And if thou love thy self, or loved'st me 
These O protect from step Dames injury.
And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse, 
With some sad sighs honour my absent Herse; 
And kiss this paper for thy loves dear sake,
Who with salt tears this last Farewel did take.