Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/469

Rh Strange, because a girl is gone the stars are not so bright,

The sunset sky not fair as once, nor morning after night,

While from the day has past away a dear and lovely light.

Come back, come back, my darling girl, and set the stars aglow;

And make the daylight dear again, and make the blossoms blow;

Come back, come back, my golden girl, never again to go.

"WHEN THE GIRLS COME TO THE OLD HOUSE"

I

the girls come

To the old house, to the old, old home;

When the girls race through it,

How will they endue it

With light and warmth and fun,

Beyond the touch of the sun.

II

When the girls run through it,

How the old house will awaken!

Never fear! It will not rue it

When it feels its old bones shaken,

From ancient sill to centuried rafter,

With sweet girl laughter.

III

When the girls race through it,

How each old ghost in its own old nook,