Voice on the Wind, and Other Poems

<h2><SPAN name="A_MAID_WHO_DIED_OLD" id="A_MAID_WHO_DIED_OLD"></SPAN>A MAID WHO DIED OLD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Frail, shrunken face, so pinched and worn,<br/></span> <span class="i1">That life has carved with care and doubt!<br/></span> <span class="i0">So weary waiting, night and morn,<br/></span> <span class="i1">For that which never came about!<br/></span> <span class="i0">Pale lamp, so utterly forlorn.<br/></span> <span class="i1">In which God's light at last is out.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Gray hair, that lies so thin and prim<br/></span> <span class="i1">On either side the sunken brows!<br/></span> <span class="i0">And soldered eyes, so deep and dim,<br/></span> <span class="i1">No word of man could now arouse!<br/></span> <span class="i0">And hollow hands, so virgin slim,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Forever clasped in silent vows!<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Poor breasts! that God designed for love,<br/></span> <span class="i1">For baby lips to kiss and press!<br/></span> <span class="i0">That never felt, yet dreamed thereof,<br/></span> <span class="i1">The human touch, the child caress&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">That lie like shriveled blooms above<br/></span> <span class="i1">The heart's long-perished happiness.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">O withered body, Nature gave<br/></span> <span class="i1">For purposes of death and birth,<br/></span> <span class="i0">That never knew, and could but crave<br/></span> <span class="i1">Those things perhaps that make life worth&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Rest now, alas! within the grave,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Sad shell that served no end of Earth.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />