OBSERVANT of the way she told So much of what was true, No vanity could long withhold Regard that was her due: She spared him the familiar guile, So easily achieved, That only made a man to smile And left him undeceived. Aware that all imagining Of more than what she meant Would urge an end of everything, He stayed; and when he went, They parted with a merry word That was to him as light As any that was ever heard Upon a starry night. She smiled a little, knowing well That he would not remark The ruins of a day that fell Around her in the dark: He saw no ruins anywhere, Nor fancied there were scars On anyone who lingered there, Alone below the stars. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRAGMENT FROM THE AGAMEMNON OF AESCHYLOS by AESCHYLUS IN THE HOSPITAL by PATRICK JOHN MCALISTER ANDERSON POEM FOR PICTURE: TO AN OIL PAINTING BY WINSLOW HOMER (DRIFTWOOD) by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. AT FAREWELL by GEORGE W. BERGQUIST THE STREAMS by FRANCES BROWN (1816-1864) |