Back Aa

Heart Songs

Close

<h2>Marguerite</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> ALL light and love, and golden grace, One full glad day, one summer day Goes ever with me on my way, And to no other yields a place. </div> <div class="stanza"> Do you remember Marguerite, Ah! faithful one, I need not ask, Since to forget is such a task, My strength fails toiling at it, sweet. </div> <div class="stanza"> We climbed the path among the hills, And laughed to see the wild-birds go All startled, flying to and fro Afraid of great and unknown ills. </div> <div class="stanza"> The wind laughed with us, and grew warm With breath of leaf, and stalk, and flower, No space of that delicious hour But held a fresh and subtle charm. </div> <div class="stanza"> Till, by-and-by, we stood and knew Ourselves upon the height alone, For us the blue sky smiled and shone, The great world only held us two.{209} </div> <div class="stanza"> So fair, so cold—it could not be! Thou wert so proud, my Marguerite, Thou wert so proud, and O, so sweet I scarce could look at all on thee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Till in me grew a madness born Of the wind blowing from the south, I bent and kissed thee on the mouth, The ripe, red mouth—the bow of scorn. </div> <div class="stanza"> No scorn was on it then, my sweet, But tenderness beyond compare, Thy white soul laid its secret bare, Thy love was mine—mine—Marguerite! </div> <div class="stanza"> I whispered foolish things and fond, O bliss, for which I vainly yearned! Not, not for me, the truth I learned, Thine hand had signed stern duty’s bond. </div> <div class="stanza"> It was the end, we did not say The lover’s lingering good-bye, Only the day’s glad soul did die, And earth and heaven alike were grey. </div> <div class="stanza"> Did I forget? is mine a heart, One apt to yield up all its store? I loved thee ever, more and more Through all the years we dwelt apart{210} One walked with me a little space, To her I gave affection mild, As to a pretty winning child Who sought to cheer me with her grace. </div> <div class="stanza"> With pretty tasks she filled each day, Walked in my home with gentle pride, Called me a dreamer, oft would chide My thoughts for soaring far away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Her robes swept softly to her feet, Her hair fell down a golden fleece, Yet, when mine arm embraced Bernice, My soul embraced thee, Marguerite. </div> <div class="stanza"> We cannot change, we cannot pass To other things until we die; Who knows, the old love may not lie Within the grave, beneath the grass? </div> <div class="stanza"> Perhaps ’twas wrong, but this I know My longing I could never still, For love was stronger than my will, And mem’ry would not let thee go. </div> <div class="stanza"> I know where one long silky braid Fell down upon thy snowy neck, And how the blushes came to deck, And where the cunning dimples laid.{211} </div> <div class="stanza"> Each of thy little tricks of speech Hath kept its echo all the while, Thy laughter growing from a smile Which sadness oft would chase and reach. </div> <div class="stanza"> And now we stand alone again, With naught to keep us far apart; Come to thy home within my heart, And there forget all loss and pain. </div> <div class="stanza"> Come, with that glow upon thy face We will go back a dozen years, Back past the graves, back through the tears, To that cold day of youth and grace. </div> <div class="stanza"> And there take up the golden store Of life and love so weighty grown— I hold thy heart against mine own, And thus will hold forever more. </div> </div></div> <ANTIMG src="images/deco.png" width-obs="25" alt="[Decorative image unavailable.]" /> {212} <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

1 of 2

2 of 2