After the dark, and before the light, One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping, Who had watched and wept the weary night. After the night, and before the day, One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping— Watching, weeping for one away. There came a footstep climbing the stair; Shook the door and in he passed. Did he enter? In the room centre Stood her husband: the door shut fast. "O Robin, but you are cold— Chilled with the night-dew: so lily-white you Look like a stray lamb from our fold. "O Robin, but you are late: Come and sit near me-sit here and cheer me."(Blue the flame burnt in the grate.) 66 Lay not down your head on my breast : I cannot hold you, kind wife, nor fold you In the shelter that you love best. "Feel not after my clasping hand : I am but a shadow, come from the meadow Where many lie, but no tree can stand. "We are trees which have shed their leaves : Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there; Only I grieve for my wife who grieves. "I could rest if you would not moan Hour after hour; I have no power To shut my ears where I lie alone. "I could rest if you would not cry; But there's no sleeping while you sit weepingWatching, weeping so bitterly." "Woe's me! woe's me! for this I have heard. Oh, night of sorrow!—oh, black to-morrow! Is it thus that you keep your word? "O you who used so to shelter me Warm from the least wind-why, now the east wind Is warmer than you, whom I quake to see. "O my husband of flesh and blood, For whom my mother I left, and brother, And all I had, accounting it good, "What do you do there, underground, In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow. What do you do there?—what have you found? "What I do there I must not tell : But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye: It is well with us-it is well. "Tender hand hath made our nest; Our fear is ended, our hope is blended With present pleasure, and we have rest.” "Oh, but Robin, I'm fain to come If your present days are so pleasant, For my days are so wearisome. "Yet I'll dry my tears for your sake: Why should I tease you, who cannot please you Any more with the pains I take?" I ONCE FOR ALL. (MARGARET.) SAID: This is a beautiful fresh rose. I said I will delight me with its scent; Will watch its lovely curve of languishment, Will watch its leaves unclose, its heart unclose. I said: Old earth has put away her snows, All living things make merry to their bent, A flower is come for every flower that went In autumn, the sun glows, the south wind blows. So walking in a garden of delight I came upon one sheltered shadowed nook Where broad leaf shadows veiled the day with night, And there lay snow unmelted by the sun :— I answered: Take who will the path I took, ENRICA, 1865. HE came among us from the South SHE And made the North her home awhile; Our dimness brightened in her smile, Our tongue grew sweeter in her mouth. We chilled beside her liberal glow, She dwarfed us by her ampler scale, We Englishwomen, trim, correct, She woman in her natural grace, Less trammelled she by lore of school, Courteous by nature not by rule, Warm-hearted and of cordial face. So for awhile she made her home She who from Italy came forth But if she found us like our sea, Of aspect colourless and chill, Rock-girt; like it she found us still Deep at our deepest, strong and free. A CHILL. WHAT can lambkins do WHAT All the keen night through? Nestle by their woolly mother The careful ewe. What can nestlings do In the nightly dew? Sleep beneath their mother's wing Till day breaks anew. If in field or tree There might only be Such a warm soft sleeping-place Found for me! SOMEWHERE OR OTHER. OMEWHERE or other there must surely be SOM The face not seen, the voice not heard, The heart that not yet-never yet-ah me! Made answer to my word. Somewhere or other, may be near or far; |