WISTARIA blossoms trail and fall Above the length of barrier wall, And softly, now and then, The shy, staid-breasted doves will flit From roof to gateway-top, and sit And watch the ways of men. The gate's ajar. If one might peep! Ah, what a haunt of rest and sleep The shadowy garden seems! And note how dimly to and fro The grave, gray-hooded Sisters go, Like figures seen in dreams. Look, there is one that tells her beads; And yonder one apart that reads A tiny missal's page; And see, beside the well, the two That, kneeling, strive to lure anew The magpie to its cage! Not beautiful -- not all! But each With that mild grace, outlying speech, Which comes of even mood; -- The Veil unseen that women wear With heart-whole thought, and quiet care, And hope of higher good. 'A placid life -- a peaceful life! What need to these the name of Wife? What gentler task (I said) -- What worthier -- e'en your arts among -- Than tend the sick, and teach the young, And give the hungry bread?' 'No worthier task!' re-echoes She, Who (closelier clinging) turns with me To face the road again: -- And yet, in that warm heart of hers, She means the doves', for she prefers To 'watch the ways of men.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAMILIARITY DANGEROUS by VINCENT BOURNE TO EDWARD FITZGERALD by ROBERT BROWNING BALLADE OF THE DEVIL-MAY-CARE by FRANK GELETT BURGESS THE BLUES; A LITERARY ECLOGUE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON PUTTING THE CREAM IN THE WELL OF VERMONT by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY MASQUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF SOMERSET: FOURTH SQUIRE by THOMAS CAMPION BALLAD TO THE TUNE - 'I WOULD GIVE TWENTY POUND' by PATRICK CAREY |