If you have come to give me faith in life Bring to my sad sojourn, Ascending on the stairway of your love, The golden key to turn. If you have come to give me faith in death, Choose then the iron key, And close the windows to the dawn That yester-shadows may remain with me. What import to my soul has life or death, If only it is you that come before, Gaoler whose key of iron or of gold Shall violate the secret of my door? And why send forth these words in solitude To you who perchance will never, on your round, Waken me with gentle voice or rude As the chimes of destiny sound. Snow has come after the birds upon the roof. Alone in this hovel where spectral footfalls mock, I still await the sorrow or the joy Of your unknown key turning in the lock. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM by RICHARD ALDINGTON COLORS by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET EIGHTEEN-DOLLAR TAXI TRIP TO TIZAPAN AND BACK TO CHAPALA by CLARENCE MAJOR |