Page:Dora Sigerson Shorter - New Poems.djvu/22

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THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

A Ballad

Father John in the green lane went
And he drew his robe full tight,
"I would," quoth he, "I were home again
For there’s evil in the night.

"I would," quoth he, "the gold I bear
Were safe with the poor and old,
For strange the fear that follows me
That my eyes cannot behold."

He looked him left and there he saw
A white rose climb and cling,
He looked him right and in the brake
A wild bird shook his wing.

He looked him back and far there stood
The old church tall and dim,
Yet on the lonely path there came
A terror strange to him.

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