Those hags are in the hallway, They've hardly opened the door -- It is as three long shadows Had slipped in long before. For hours they are patient, Looking up the stair; They hear a lady singing And combing her lovely hair. "Jenny, tell your mistress There's company today, And all fixed and ready To take her a long way." "Dear mothers, O sweet mothers, Come out of the cold, please -- There's plenty of room in the kitchen, And a cup at your own ease." They sip their tea and mumble With a meaningful air, Thinking of the lady Singing up the stair. "Jenny, tell your mistress Her company is here, And she has barely the time now To brush away a tear." "Dear mothers, O sweet mothers, She's singing a song there; Not weeping at all, mothers, But doing her lovely hair." "Jenny, see your mistress, And tell her company If she is ready to go now, Her hair all tidy." The house is dark, the house is still; The maid flies up the stair And fumbles at the door-knob The hags down there Come slowly up the dark stair And push the lady's door; The comb has dropped from her lovely hair, They find it on the floor. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE WOMAN by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE EXISTING POOL by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE SACRAL DREAMS OF RAMON FERNANDEZ by JAMES GALVIN CALLING DREAMS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON HOMING BRAVES by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO BAYARD TAYLOR by SIDNEY LANIER |