Page:Maurine and Other Poems (1910).pdf/27

A light wind, from the open casement, fanned
My brow and Helen’s, as we, hand in hand,
Sat looking out upon the twilight scene,
In dreamy silence. Helen’s dark-blue eyes,
Like two lost stars that wandered from the skies
Some night adown the meteor’s shining track,
And always had been grieving to go back,
Now gazed up, wistfully, at heaven’s dome,
And seemed to recognise and long for home.
Her sweet voice broke the silence: “Wish, Maurine,
Before you speak! you know the moon is new,
And anything you wish for will come true
Before it wanes. I do believe the sign!
Now tell me your wish, and I’ll tell you mine.”

I turned and looked up at the slim young moon;
And, with an almost superstitious heart,
I sighed, “Oh, new moon! help me, by thine art,
To grow all grace and goodness, and to be
Worthy the love a true heart proffers me.”
Then smiling down, I said, “Dear one! my boon,
I fear, is quite too silly or too sweet
For my repeating: so we’ll let it stay
Between the moon and me. But if I may
I’ll listen now to your wish. Tell me, please!”

All suddenly she nestled at my feet,
And hid her blushing face upon my knees.
Then drew my hand against her glowing cheek,
And, leaning on my breast, began to speak,
Half sighing out the words my tortured ear
Reached down to catch, while striving not to hear.

“Can you not guess who ’twas about, Maurine?
Oh, my sweet friend! you must ere this have seen
The love I tried to cover from all eyes
And from myself. Ah, foolish little heart!
As well it might go seeking for some art
Whereby to hide the sun in noonday skies.
When first the strange sound of his voice I heard,
Looked on his noble face, and, touched his hand,
My slumb’ring heart thrilled through and through and stirred
As if to say, ‘I hear, and understand.’
And day by day mine eyes were blest beholding
The inner beauty of his life, unfolding
In countless words and actions that portrayed