African American Poetry: A Digital Anthology

Lucian B. Watkins, "Loved and Lost" (1921)

Sergeant Lucian B. Watkins, the wll-known poet, died at the hospital of Fort McHenry, Maryland, on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The funeral services were held at Christ Institution ... Baltimore, Md., on Friday afternoon, Feb. 4. The internment was in the National Cemetery, at Loudon Park. Rev. John R. Watkins of 640 Stirling Street, Baltimore, Md., was a brother of the deceased. A father and other relatives survive him.

Mr. Watkins choice bits of verse have graced the leading newspapers and magazines fo the country. Mr. Watkins was a weekly contributor to the poetry column of The Negro World. His last poem, Loved and Lost," was sent to The Negro World a few days before his death and was published in the Feb. 5 issue. We take pleasure in republishing it.

My fallen star has spent its night
And left but memory to me;
My day of dream has kissed the night.
Farewell: its sun no more I see:
My summer bloomed for winter's front;
Alas I've lived and loved and lost!

What matters if today should earth 
Lay on my head a gold-bright crown
Lit with gems of royal worth
Befitting well a king's renown?--
My lonely soul is trouble-tossed, 
For I have lived and loved and lost!

Great God! I dare not question Thee--
Thy way eternally is just;
This seeming mystery to me
Will be revealed if I but trust:
Ah, Thou alone dost know the cost
When one has lived and loved and lost! 


Published in The Negro World, February 5, 1921
Re-published in The Negro World, February 19, 1921

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