Page:Florence Earle Coates Poems 1898 45.jpg

 And thou with solemn stillness didst caress him.

Forbearing to afflict with comfort crude,

Mistimed advice or cheap solicitude,

Thou with thy mild tranquillity didst bless him.

Thou didst not offer fond, unmeaning words,

But whisperings of leaves, and notes of birds,

And breathings of fresh flowers; things which stole

Through the unlighted chambers of his soul,

And made him—how, he knew not—less alone.

Like dreams that come where misery hath slept,

Recalling tender hopes, and pleasures flown,

He welcomed them and wept.

Then with unsteady hand from out his breast

He drew the pipe of Pan,—the reedy flute

That long neglected in inglorious rest,

Dark, like his vision, lay there cold and mute.

Up to his quivering lips he raised it slowly,

A moment paused, then blew a fainting strain:

His rigid brow relaxed, his head drooped lowly,

He felt the old, the sweet, immortal pain!

Again the mellow, melting notes he tried,—

Again meek Echo caught her breath and sighed.

Then freer, stronger, lovelier grew the lay;

Incertain fears fled guiltily away;

The lilies, listening, paled, the breeze grew whist,

The violets flushed to deeper amethyst,

The restless Hours, departing, longed to stay.