Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOW PEACE CAME, by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOW PEACE CAME, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: As the still hours toward midnight wore
Last Line: And heaven was moved, and came to me.
Subject(s): Peace


AS the still hours toward midnight wore,
She called to me -- her voice was low
And soft as snow that falls in snow --
She called my name, and nothing more.

Sleeping, I felt the life-blood stir
With piercing anguish all my heart --
I felt my dreams like curtains part,
And straightway passed through them to her.

Yet, 'twixt my answer and her call,
My thoughts had time enough to run
Through everything that I had done
From my youth upward. One and all.

The harmful words which I had said --
The sinful thoughts, the looks untrue,
Straight into fearful phantoms grew,
And ranged themselves about her bed.

Weeping, I called her names most sweet,
But still the phantoms, evil-eyed,
Between us stood, and though I died,
I could not even touch her feet.

My soul within me seemed to groan --
My cheek was burning up with shame --
I called each dark deed by its name,
And humbly owned it for my own.

My tongue was loosed -- my heart was free --
I took the little shining head
Betwixt my palms -- the phantoms fled.
And Heaven was moved, and came to me.





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