Cambridge Poets 1900–1913

Aelfrida Tillyard . Was all resistless borne. I oped my eyes . There were two doctors near, Resolute and grave . To myself I seemed No more myself but some strange battlefield , Whereon they fought against an unseen foe . I saw my mother ; and him whose love had made My life an ecstasy of joy and pain . Between these two an angel stood , all grey , With grey wings softer than a seamew 's breast And eyes all shrouded from the gaze of men . " Lo , this is Death ,” I mused , “ all robed in grey ." And still th' enchanted drowsy stream flowed on, Beating some rhythmic music in my ears Until the sea should silence all at last . Overhead my children slept . And I thought “ What when they wake , and , calling for me , Find that there is no longer Mother there ? " Then gathered I my strength and fashioned it To prayer , and took my love and made it wings Wherewith to fly to God 's far - distant throne . I felt that with the gift of that one prayer I surely gave my children all I had . While lower , swifter sped the drowsy stream While yet the angel stood all hooded , by my bed . And here , there , with anxious decided steps , The doctors walked . My left hand lay in yours . The day broke , and the pale light all unreal , Came creeping in my room . Then all the birds Chorused with deafening clamour from the trees , The sun weighed down the earth with heavy bars 191