Page:Songs of Rebellion (Hall 1915).djvu/33

 THE DEAD LOVE

They wreathed your brow with laurels, and a lily spotless white They placed upon your bosom, and they left you in the night; They left you there, my darling, where the roses breathed their breath, In silken splendor shrouded, in the lonely house of death.

The moon outside was shining in a sky without a stain, And through the open window came a mocker's wild refrain; A strange, unearthly beauty palpitated through the air, But loveliness was loveliest where you were lying there.

Around your queenly presence the departed soul still clung. It seemed that death had come as comes a song by angels sung, Had stolen on you unawares, as night steals on the day, And fixed in every feature, dear, the life it took away.

Within the dim, hushed chamber, there I knelt beside your bier And poured love's broken message in your cold, unheeding ear; I would not have it but that your unanswering was feigned, And on your still half-parted lips a thousand kisses rained.

They wreathed your brow with laurels, and a lily spotless white They placed upon your bosom, and they left you in the night; They left you there, my darling, where the roses breathed their breath, In silken splendor shrouded, in the lonely house of death.  ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ THE ONE WOMAN

I have seen her coming to me through the dreamlands of the night, And the star-crown on her tresses filled the world with wondrous light.

There was 'round her all the glory of the once great Southern race; All the Old South's strength and beauty; all its nameless charm and grace.

Her dark hair sweeping backward showed a forehead broad and white; And a passion born of heaven gave her eyes undying light.

'Round her white soul lingered all the virtues, honor, love and truth, All the stainlessness of woman in the loveliness of youth.

She was just as I had dreamed her, from my childhood to to-day,— The ideal and the vision which will never pass away.  —27—