1 She will come tho' she loiter, believe, Her pledge it assigns not the day; Why brood by the embers night after night, Sighing over their dying away -- Well, let her delay; She is everywhere longed for as here; A favorite, freakish and young: Her can we gladden, then us she can cheer? Let us think no wrong. 2 But watch and wait: Wait by the pasture-bars Or watch by the garden-gate; For, after coming, tho' wide she stray, First ever she shows on the slender way -- Slim sheep-track threads the hill-side brown, Or foot-path leads to the garden down. 3 While snow lingered under the fir, Loth to melt from embrace of the earth, And ashy red embers of logs In moonlight dozed on the hearth; And in cage by the window sun-warmed Our bird was enheartened to song; It was then that, as yearly before, By the self-same foot-path along, She drew to the weather-beat door That was sunned thro' the skeleton-tree: Nothing she said, but seemed to say -- "Old folks, aren't ye glad to see me!" And tears brimmed our eyes -- bless the day! Then she turned; revisited in sort -- She was here -- she was there, Peeping eager everywhere, Like one who revisits scenes never forgot. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STATE OF WYOMING by KAREN SWENSON TO ROSAMONDE: A BALADE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER PUTTING IN THE SEED by ROBERT FROST SAMSON AGONISTES by JOHN MILTON THE NIGHT COURT by RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL OEDIPUS AT COLONUS: OLD AGE by SOPHOCLES |