FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   >>  
ed half-- And as he passes down the bordered path, His kiss still lingering upon her hand, She leans out from the door, and watches him Until he vanishes between the trees. I seem to see her face, a trouble sweet Dwelling upon it, even though the light Sets it in glory, with a slender ring Above the white brow and the golden hair. III. I see them riding down the village street: He on a horse as black and strong as iron, She on her snowy palfrey, robed in green, Slack reins in hand; the horses side by side. Even as I see and write, my heart grows cold-- Cold as a bird that on a winter's day Breasts the bleak wind, high in the biting air. IV. I see a city with a concourse vast Of gas-lit streets and buildings, and above, Its dear face buried in its cloudy hands, The Night bends over, weeping. In the street I see the face again I saw to-day. I see him writing in a narrow room. I read the words: _To-night I end my life. The river says "Embrace, I offer rest." The world and I have grappled in fair fight, And I am beaten. Having found defeat, I long to go down to its lowest depths. I only ask, that those who find these words, Will send them to my people past the sea; To-night I cross a wider: so, adieu._ MICHAEL GIANNI. This is his true name, And afterward he writes his wife's address. He leaves the paper foldless on a stand, And then goes forth; but not to end his life. He dreams that now his life is but begun. He sees my Grace in all his coming days; He sees the large old farm-house where she dwells, And therein hopes to happily pass the years, Living in peace and plenty till he dies. Most human calculations end in loss, And every one who has a plan devised, Is like a foolish walker on a rope, First balancing on this side, then on that, Hazarding much to gain a paltry end; And if the rope of calculation breaks, Or if the foot slip, added to mishap Come the world's jeers and gibes; and so 'tis best. Should half men's schemings find success at last, I fear God's plans would have but narrow room. (Michael Gianni, now I know your name, This premonition gives the hint to me To trip you in your studied subtleties. You will not win my Grace, who loves me still; You will not dare to kiss her hand again.) V. Beneath a rustic arbor, near her house, Linked with sweet converse, sit two sh
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   >>  



Top keywords:

street

 

narrow

 
dwells
 

rustic

 

Beneath

 

Living

 

studied

 

happily

 

subtleties

 

coming


address
 

leaves

 

foldless

 

writes

 

afterward

 

converse

 

plenty

 

dreams

 

Linked

 

mishap


breaks

 

calculation

 

premonition

 

Should

 

Michael

 

Gianni

 

schemings

 

success

 

devised

 
calculations

paltry

 
Hazarding
 

foolish

 

walker

 

balancing

 

Having

 

strong

 

palfrey

 

golden

 

riding


village

 

winter

 

Breasts

 

horses

 

watches

 

lingering

 

passes

 
bordered
 

vanishes

 

slender