Page:The New Penelope.djvu/350

344 And suck the ripe world to its rotten core?

Yet do you reek if my reign be done?

E're I pass ye crown the newer one!

At ball and rout ye dance and shout,

Shutting men's cries of suffering out,

That startle the white-tressed silences

Musing beside the fount of light,

In the eternal space, to press

Their roses, each a nebula bright,

More close to their lips serene,

While ye wear this unconscious mein!"

"Even so."

The revelers said: "We'll have naught of woe.

Why should we mourn, who have our fill?

Enough that the hungry wretches cry:

We from our plenty cast at will

Some crumbs to make their wet eyelids dry;

But to the rich the world is fair—

Why should we grovel in tears and prayer?"

In her innocent bliss,

A fair bride said with sweet earnestness,

"For the dead Year am I truly sad;

Since in its happy and hopeful days,

Every brief hour my heart was glad,

And blessings were strewn in all my ways:

Will it be so forevermore?

Will the New Years bring of love new store?"

Youth and maid.

Of their conscious blushes half afraid,

Shunning each other's tell-tale eyes,

Yet cherishing hopes too fond to own;

Speed the Old Year with secret sighs;

And smile that his time is overflown;

Shall they not hear each other say

"Dear Love!" ere the New Year's passed away?