It was a dismal day when chilling rain Like icy tears coursed down the window pane, The clouds were dark and I was hedged about With darker moods, but these were put to rout, When to my ears there came a tapping sound, So low at first as to be almost drowned By other noises -- then it grew more clear, Until I knew some cherished friend was near; And opening the door I heard your voice, Soft-cadenced, kind, that made my heart rejoice; You came to me because you sensed my need Of comradeship, as if to intercede With something of your spirit as a shield, And yet you bore a gift -- I saw revealed A deeper motive. . . did you not foresee That I had need of faith, serenity? Two gifts you left, one was a healing token, Yet of this greater gift no word was spoken. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONGS OF A FOOL: 2 by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS COMPANIONS; A TALE OF A GRANDFATHER by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY HYSTERIA by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS ST. MARTIN'S WALL by ANTON ALEXANDER VON AUERSPERG THE OLD LINE FENCE by AMERICUS WELLINGTON BELLAW AT SABBATH DOWN by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE HERB-LEECH by JOSEPH CAMPBELL OBSERVATIONS IN THE ART OF ENGLISH POESY: 16. TROCHAIC VERSE: THE TWELFTH EPIGRAM by THOMAS CAMPION |