Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/139



speeding down on All Souls' Eve From the wide gates of that mysterious shore Where sleep the dead, sung softly and yet sweet “So gay a wind was never heard before,” The old man said, and listened by the fire; And, “'Tis the souls that pass us on their way,” The young maids whispered, clinging side by side. So left their glowing nuts awhile to pray.

Still the pale spirit, singing through the night. Came to this window, looking from the dark Into the room; then passing to the door, Where crouched the whining dog, afraid to bark, Tapped gently without answer, pressed the latch. Pushed softly open, and then tapped once more. The maidens cried, when seeking for the ring, “How strange a wind is blowing on the door!”

And said the old man, crouching to the fire: “Draw close your chairs, for colder falls the night; Push fast the door, and pull the curtains to, For it is dreary in the moon's pale light” And then his daughter's daughter with her hand Passed over salt and clay to touch the ring, Said low, “The old need fire, but ah! the young Have that within their heart to flame and sting.”