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"Assurance" from Emma Lazarus' Copy Book

This poem comes from Emma Lazarus' copy book. In 1951, the content of the poem was used by Arthur Ziegler to explain why Lazarus never married. The text reads as follows:
Assurance

Last night I slept, and when I woke her kiss
Still floated on my lips. For we had strayed
Together in my dream, through some dim glade,
Where the shy moonbeams scarce dared light our bliss.
The air was dank with dew, between the trees,
The hidden glow-worms kindled and were spent.
Cheek pressed to cheek, the cool, the hot night-breeze
Mingled our hair, our breath, and went,
As sporting with our passion. Low and deep
Spake in mine ear her voice: "And didst thou dream,
This could be buried? This could be sleep?
And love be thralled to death! Nay whatso seem,
Have faith, dear heart; THIS IS THE THING THAT IS!"
Thereon I woke and on my lips her kiss.

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How to cite this page

Jewish Women's Archive. ""Assurance" from Emma Lazarus' Copy Book." (Viewed on December 14, 2024) <https://jwa.org/media/assurance-from-emma-lazarus-copy-book>.