Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/126

98 With earthly sorrow laden;

Her tears afresh they start—

She has chosen the Gentle Heart.

V

And now the spirit goes,

In her breast the snow-white rose.

When hark! a voice that calls

Within the garden walls:

Thou didst choose the better part,

Thou hast won the Gentle Heart—

Lo, now to thee is given

The red rose of Heaven."

A WOMAN'S THOUGHT

a woman—therefore I may not

Call to him, cry to him,

Fly to him,

Bid him delay not!

Then when he comes to me, I must sit quiet;

Still as a stone—

All silent and cold.

If my heart riot—

Crush and defy it!

Should I grow bold,

Say one dear thing to him,

All my life fling to him,

Cling to him—

What to atone

Is enough for my sinning!

This were the cost to me,

This were my winning—

That he were lost to me.