WHY, lady, do your kettles glow so bright? These skirtings swept, these carpets scoured free Of moths and dust, what may their meaning be? Drawn damask window cloths and walls washed white, All cupboards sweet and cleanly to the sight, These patient lamps that wait the dusk...? and she, Pausing a moment, answered hopefully, Yet anxious wise, 'The prince may come to-night.' So let us cleanse our hearts, devoutly sweep This wormwood from our dreams, and bid depart All fleshly basenesses, all worldly store. 'To-night, the prince may come!' yea, while we sleep, A solemn impulse murmur in the heart, Or Christ come gently knocking at the door. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE FALL by HAYDEN CARRUTH CAESAR'S LOST TRANSPORT SHIPS by ROBERT FROST THE CENTER OF GRAVITY by DAVID IGNATOW COMPANIONS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO RIDGELY TORRENCE - PLAYWRIGHT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |