Page:Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke (1918).djvu/74

 MAIDEN MELANCHOLY

A young knight comes into my mind

As from some myth of old.

He came! You felt yourself entwined

As a great storm would round you wind.

He went! A blessing undefined

Seemed left, as when church-bells declined

And left you wrapt in prayer.

You fain would cry aloud—but bind

Your scarf about you and tear-blind

Weep softly in its fold.

A young knight comes into my mind

Full armored forth to fare.

His smile was luminously kind

Like glint of ivory enshrined,

Like a home longing undivined,

Like Christmas snows where dark ways wind,

Like sea-pearls about turquoise twined,

Like moonlight silver when combined

With a loved book's rare gold.

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