IN a nook apart from the busy street, Aside from the rushing of restless feet, Where the hurrying hum is but faintly heard, And the waves of ambition are never stirr'd, Three maidens dwelt; a sisterhood Whose lives were pure as their deeds were good; Whose beauty, once seen, on the heart would be As the echo of exquisite melody. The first of the three was tall and fair, With a glistening glory of golden hair, Her eyes were stars in their steady light, Her lips twin rose-leaves of crimson bright. She seldom smiled, but her glorious eyes Flash'd courage where apathy 'gan to rise, She set in the heart of the faint a flame; And men said "Faith" was the maiden's name. The second was sunny, and frank, and free, Her breast o'er-brimming with buoyant glee, Her laugh was like echoes of silver bells, Or the ripple of waters in leafy dells. Oft seem'd to deceive, yet was loved the more, For she touch'd every heart in its inmost core; She soften'd sorrow and sweeten'd care, And "Hope" was the name of this maiden fair. But how shall I limn, with my puny pen, The maiden who rules in the hearts of men With a sway so soft that its tyrannous powers Are sweet to the soul as the sun to flowers. Her gentle presence is ever felt, And stony hearts at her impulse melt; All souls in her influence upwards move, For she reigns supreme, and her name is "Love." These three had a dwelling but poor and small, Yet the light of their presence shone over it all, And burn'd into brightness its every part, Though it was but a humble human heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LUNCH AT A CLUB by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET SENRYU: BLIND DATE by TIMOTHY LIU THE SLAVE TRADE: VIEW FROM THE MIDDLE PASSAGE by CLARENCE MAJOR SPRING WIND IN LONDON by KATHERINE MANSFIELD THE ARABIAN SHAWL by KATHERINE MANSFIELD ON A LADY SINGING by ISAAC ROSENBERG DEDICATION OF THE FIRST SONNETS TO A FRIEND ... by GEORGE SANTAYANA |