A STRANGER came to the door at eve, And he spoke the bridegroom fair. He bore a green-white stick in his hand, And, for all burden, care. He asked with the eyes more than the lips For a shelter for the night, And he turned and looked at the road afar Without a window light. The bridegroom came forth into the porch With, 'Let us look at the sky, And question what of the night to be, Stranger, you and I.' The woodbine leaves littered the yard, The woodbine berries were blue, Autumn, yes, winter was in the wind; 'Stranger, I wish I knew.' Within, the bride in the dusk alone Bent over the open fire, Her face rose-red with the glowing coal And the thought of the heart's desire. The bridegroom looked at the weary road, Yet saw but her within, And wished her heart in a case of gold And pinned with a silver pin. The bridegroom thought it little to give A dole of bread, a purse, A heartfelt prayer for the poor of God, Or for the rich a curse; But whether or not a man was asked To mar the love of two By harboring woe in the bridal house, The bridegroom wished he knew. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: ON A FAMILY PICTURE by THOMAS EDWARDS JIM BLUDSO [OF THE PRAIRIE BELLE] by JOHN MILTON HAY SONNET TO A CLAM by JOHN GODFREY SAXE ADDRESS TO THE MUMMY AT BELZONI'S EXHIBITION by HORACE SMITH THE RE-CURED LOVER EXULTETH IN HIS FREEDOM by THOMAS WYATT HAWTHORNE by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT IN AN AEROPLANE by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE |