Richard Lovelace

To Lucasta, going beyond the Seas

        IF to be absent were to be
                Away from thee;
            Or that when I am gone
            You or I were alone;
        Then, my Lucasta, might I crave
Pity from blustering wind or swallowing wave.

        But I'll not sigh one blast or gale
                To swell my sail,
            Or pay a tear to 'suage
            The foaming blue god's rage;
        For whether he will let me pass
Or no, I'm still as happy as I was.

        Though seas and land betwixt us both,
                Our faith and troth,
            Like separated souls,
            All time and space controls:
        Above the highest sphere we meet
Unseen, unknown; and greet as Angels greet.

        So then we do anticipate
                Our after-fate,
            And are alive i' the skies,
            If thus our lips and eyes
        Can speak like spirits unconfined
In Heaven, their earthy bodies left behind.