She  had  gone  from  my  life,  and  its  light

was  all  gone ;
She  had  gone  from  my  life,  and  I  saw

her  no  more ;
Drip,  drip  !  let  it  pelt ! — it  was  eerie

and  lone ;
So  was  I  ;  and  my  heart  lay  within

me  like  stone ;
And  I  cared  not  although  the  slow

pitiless  pour

Should  drip  evermore.
262


Raban


MISGIVING

Has  he  done  wrong,  who,  as  the  years

go  past,
In  loneliness,  knowing  it  all  in  vain,
As  he  has  loved  before,  to  love  again.
Brings    to    his    home    another    bride

at  last  ?

Tender  and  kind,  he  cherishes  his  mate
More  tenderly,  the  more  he  feels  that

she
Gets  not  the  perfect  love  which  ought

to  be
The  guerdon  and  the   bliss  of  wife's

estate.
For  while  he  gently  kisses  her  fond  lips.
It  is  another  face  that  meets  his  gaze ;
And    he   is    stung  by  words   of  love

or  praise
Which  the  truth  known  would  darken

with  eclipse.
0  sorrow  and  shame  !   that,  while  he
lies  beside

The  trusting  one,  he  in  the  silence  hears
His  heart  throb  for  the  love  of  other

years,
And  calm  to  her  whom  he  has  made

his  bride.
REMORSE

Alas  !  she  did  not  long  with  me  abide.
But  pining  slowly.
Like  waning  moon,  she  faded  bymyside

With  melancholy,
And  in  our  fifth  spring,  died.
1  lifted  up  the  face-cloth  from  her  face  ;

Upon  its  beauty.
Stony  and  still,  yet  lay  the  tender  grace
Of  love  and  duty.
And  patient  sorrow's  trace.
O  heart,  I  said,  that  gavest  me  all  thy
wealth.
