The Complaint of a Forsaken Indian Woman Composed 1798. Published 1798. |
When a Northern Indian, from sickness, is unable to continue his journey with his companions; he is left behind, covered over with Deer-skins, and is supplied with water, food, and fuel if the situation of the place will afford it. He is informed of the track which his companions intend to pursue, and if he is unable to follow, or overtake them, he perishes alone in the Desart; unless he should have the good fortune to fall in with some other Tribes of Indians. It is unnecessary to add that the females are equally, or still more, exposed to the same fate. See that very interesting work, Hearne's 'Journey from Hudson's Bay to the Northern Ocean'. When the Northern Lights, as the same writer informs us, vary their position in the air, they make a rustling and a crackling noise. This circumstance is alluded to in the first stanza of the following poem.—W. W. 1798. At Alfoxden, in 1798, where I read Hearne's 'Journey' with deep interest. It was composed for the volume of "Lyrical Ballads."—I. F.
Classed among the "Poems founded on the Affections." —Ed.
| stanza | text | variant | line number | | I | Before I see another day,
Oh let my body die away!
In sleep I heard the northern gleams;
The stars, they were among my dreams;
In rustling conflict through the skies,
I heard, I saw the flashes drive,
And yet they are upon my eyes,
And yet I am alive;
Before I see another day,
Oh let my body die away! |
1
2
3
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5
10 | | II | My fire is dead: it knew no pain;
Yet is it dead, and I remain:
All stiff with ice the ashes lie;
And they are dead, and I will die.
When I was well, I wished to live,
For clothes, for warmth, for food, and fire
But they to me no joy can give,
No pleasure now, and no desire.
Then here contented will I lie!
Alone, I cannot fear to die. | |
15
20 | | III | Alas! ye might have dragged me on
Another day, a single one!
Too soon I yielded to despair;
Why did ye listen to my prayer?
When ye were gone my limbs were stronger;
And oh, how grievously I rue,
That, afterwards, a little longer,
My friends, I did not follow you!
For strong and without pain I lay,
Dear friends, when ye were gone away. | 4
5
6
7 |
25
30 | | IV | My Child! they gave thee to another,
A woman who was not thy mother.
When from my arms my Babe they took,
On me how strangely did he look!
Through his whole body something ran,
A most strange working did I see;
—As if he strove to be a man,
That he might pull the sledge for me:
And then he stretched his arms, how wild!
Oh mercy! like a helpless child. |
8
9 |
35
40 | | V | My little joy! my little pride!
In two days more I must have died.
Then do not weep and grieve for me;
I feel I must have died with thee.
O wind, that o'er my head art flying
The way my friends their course did bend,
I should not feel the pain of dying,
Could I with thee a message send;
Too soon, my friends, ye went away;
For I had many things to say. |
10
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45
50 | | VI | I'll follow you across the snow;
Ye travel heavily and slow;
In spite of all my weary pain
I'll look upon your tents again.
—My fire is dead, and snowy white
The water which beside it stood:
The wolf has come to me to-night,
And he has stolen away my food.
For ever left alone am I;
Then wherefore should I fear to die? |
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55
60 | | VII | Young as I am, my course is run,
I shall not see another sun;
I cannot lift my limbs to know
If they have any life or no.
My poor forsaken Child, if I
For once could have thee close to me,
With happy heart I then would die,
And my last thought would happy be;
But thou, dear Babe, art far away,
Nor shall I see another day. | 12 / 13
14
15 |
65
70 |
Variant 1: | 1798 | | The stars were mingled with my dreams;
| 1815 | The text of 1836 returns to that of 1798.
return to variant mark
Variant 2: | 1820 | | In sleep did I behold the skies
| 1798 | return
Variant 3: | 1827 | | I saw the crackling flashes drive;
I heard, and saw the flashes drive;
| 1798
1820 | return
Variant 4: return
Variant 5: | 1815 | | Too soon despair o'er me prevailed;
Too soon my heartless spirit failed;
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1798 | return
Variant 6: return
Variant 7: | 1845 | | My friends, when you ...
... when ye ...
| 1798
1815 | return
Variant 8: | 1815 | | A most strange something ....
| 1798 | return
Variant 9: | 1815 | | ... a little child.
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Variant 10: return
Variant 11: return
Variant 12: This stanza was omitted in the editions 1815 to 1832, but restored in 1836.—Ed.
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Variant 13: | 1836 | | My journey will be shortly run,
| 1798 | return
Variant 14: | 1836 | | ... I then would die,
And my last thoughts ...
... I then should die,
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1798
1800 | return
Variant 15: | 1836 | | I feel my body die away,
I shall not see another day.
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1798 | return Contents
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