Menella Bute Smedley (Менелла Бьют Смедли)
A Meeting
Two that wrecked each other's hope, Parting coldly in their prime, Met upon the downward slope, Taught by tears, and calmed by time, Under Autumn's perfect trees, Dropping bright remembrances. There they spread their stories out, Face to face, and hand to hand, Looking back with wistful doubt Into the forgotten land Where the wheels of life went fast, Hardly seen till they were past: Looking where the dawn had been Till each grey and pallid line Shivers with a sun unseen Which must never rise and shine, And the Moment, lost and vain, Comes before their souls again: Saying softly, “Yes, I think You were there,—you came at ten.” “In your hair was something pink; How I hate the hue since then!” “Hate a harmless ribbon!” “Nay, I have pardoned it to-day. “I remember what you said.” “But you laughed, and I despaired.” “Did I laugh? I was afraid You might fancy that I cared.” “Be content, your pride shall be Scatheless as your heart for me.” “Something in your voice assures You have angry feelings yet.” “Something told me then in yours That you would not—quite—forget; Just one foolish moment lit Hope,—that laugh extinguished it.” “Sure the flame was very weak!” “'Twas your silence let it die.” “If a man's hope will not speak, Can a woman's heart reply?” “Had I spoken?” “Do I know? It was very long ago!” Face to face, and hand in hand, Looking at those eastern skies, Is the light along the land Only borrowed from their eyes? Can the song of birds be drawn From a memory of dawn? Lo, the hill, the sea, the plain, Flushing with familiar rose! Look away, and look again, But the colour stays and grows! Wherefore stand amazed and dumb? Knew you not that morn must come?
Menella Bute Smedley’s other poems:
- Wooden Legs
- The Story of Queen Isabel
- The Little White Doe
- An Anniversary (On the seventh of September, two little years gone by)
- Two Journeys
Poems of other poets with the same name (Стихотворения других поэтов с таким же названием):
