HERE he is, in marble, waiting by a tomb -- Strong-winged for flying, yet, the legends say, Waiting till a maiden buried here below Shall break forth and join him once again, some day. Long ago she lived here, in this Town of Flowers -- She herself a blossom brighter than the rest -- Myrtles blue as Heaven, lilies saintly white, Ne'er a one was worthy to bloom upon her breast. Here he saw and loved her -- he, the gallant Knight, Loved this gracious Lady, fairer than the May; Loved her, and won her, Flower of all Delight -- Then Death, the Robber, stole his love away. By her grave he waited, years on weary years, Sure that Love would sometime triumph over Fate, Till at length, o'er-tired, he too must go to sleep; Then he bade them carve him, still by her to wait -- But with wings for flying, so that when she came From her narrow chamber he could bear her high, Over seas and mountains, past the bars of Earth, To a spacious dwelling somewhere in the sky. Still the summons comes not -- long their silent dream -- But the watching seraphs pity them, I know, And the tomb will open, and the dead will rise, And the Knight and Lady Heavenward will go. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHINESE LAUNDRYMAN by KAREN SWENSON BIRCH STREAM by ANNA BOYNTON AVERILL WEEDS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY WITCH-WIFE by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY HERO TO LEANDER by ALFRED TENNYSON NOCTURNE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |