Ere the morn the East has crimsoned, br When the stars are twinkling there, br (As they did in Watts's Hymns, and br Made him wonder what they were br When the forest-nymphs are beading br Fern and flower with silvery dew - br My infallible proceeding br Is to wake, and think of you. br br When the hunter's ringing bugle br Sounds farewell to field and copse, br And I sit before my frugal br Meal of gravy-soup and chops: br When (as Gray remarks) 'the moping br Owl doth to the moon complain,' br And the hour suggests eloping - br Fly my thoughts to you again. br br May my dreams be granted never? br Must I aye endure affliction br Rarely realised, if ever, br In our wildest works of fiction? br Madly Romeo loved his Juliet; br Copperfield began to pine br When he hadn't been to school yet - br But their loves were cold to mine. br br Give me hope, the least, the dimmest, br Ere I drain the poisoned cup: br Tell me I may tell the chymist br Not to make that arsenic up! br Else, this heart shall soon cease throbbing; br And when, musing o'er my bones, br Travellers ask, 'Who killed Cock Robin?' br They'll be told, 'Miss Sarah J-s.