Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GHOST'S PETITION, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: There's a footstep coming; look out and see Last Line: "any more with the pains I take?" Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina | ||||||||
"There's a footstep coming; look out and see." -- "The leaves are falling, the wind is calling; No one cometh across the lea." -- "There's a footstep coming; O sister, look." -- "The ripple flashes, the white foam dashes; No one cometh across the brook." -- "But the promised that he would come: Tonight, tomorrow, in joy or sorrow, He must keep his word, and must come home. "For he promised that he would come: His word was given; from earth or heaven, He must keep his word, and must come home. "Go to sleep, my sweet sister Jane; You can slumber, who need not number Hour after hour, in doubt and pain. "I shall sit here awhile, and watch; Listening, hoping, for one hand groping In deep shadow to find the latch." After the dark, and before the light, One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping, Who had watched and wept the weary night. After the night, and before the day, One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping -- Watching, weeping for one away. There came a footstep climbing the stair; Some one standing out on the landing Shook the door like a puff of air -- Shook the door and in he passed. Did he enter? In the room centre Stood her husband: the door shut fast. "O Robin, but you are cold -- Chilled with the night-dew: so lily-white you Look like a stray lamb from our fold. "O Robin, but you are late: Come and sit near me -- sit here and cheer me." -- (Blue the flame burnt in the grate.) "Lay not down your head on my breast: I cannot hold you, kind wife, nor fold you In the shelter that you love best. "Feel not after my clasping hand: I am but a shadow, come from the meadow Where many lie, but no tree can stand. "We are trees which have shed their leaves: Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there; Only I grieve for my wife who grieves. "I could rest if you would not moan Hour after hour; I have no power To shut my ears where I lie alone. "I could rest if you would not cry; But there's no sleeping while you sit weeping -- Watching, weeping so bitterly." -- "Woe's me! woe's me! for this I have heard. Oh night of sorrow! -- oh black tomorrow! Is it thus that you keep your word? "O you who used so to shelter me Warm from the least wind -- why, now the east wind Is warmer than you, whom I quake to see. "O my husband of flesh and blood, For whom my mother I left, and brother, And all I had, accounting it good, "What do you do there, underground, In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow. What do you do there? -- what have you found?" -- "What I do there I must not tell: But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye: It is well with us -- it is well. "Tender hand hath made our nest; Our fear is ended, our hope is blended With present pleasure, and we have rest." -- "Oh but Robin, I'm fain to come, If your present days are so pleasant; For my days are so wearisome. "Yet I'll dry my tears for your sake: Why should I tease you, who cannot please you Any more with the pains I take?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A BED OF FORGET-ME-NOTS by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A BETTER RESURRECTION by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A BIRTHDAY by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A DIRGE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A LIFE'S PARALLELS by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI A PAUSE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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