The Ghost (Teasdale)

For works with similar titles, see The Ghost.

The Ghost by Sara Teasdale

From Love Songs Part I

I went back to the clanging city,
      I went back where my old loves stayed,
But my heart was full of my new love's glory,
      My eyes were laughing and unafraid.

I met one who had loved me madly
      And told his love for all to hear --
But we talked of a thousand things together,
      The past was buried too deep to fear.

I met the other, whose love was given
      With never a kiss and scarcely a word --
Oh, it was then the terror took me
      Of words unuttered that breathed and stirred.

Oh, love that lives its life with laughter
      Or love that lives its life with tears
Can die -- but love that is never spoken
      Goes like a ghost through the winding years. . . .

I went back to the clanging city,
      I went back where my old loves stayed,
My heart was full of my new love's glory, --
      But my eyes were suddenly afraid.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1933, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.