But when I told them of my strange playfellow,
Her hazel eyes and snooded locks of brown,
And cheek like a white rose the sun has darkened,
Her mauve-lined scarf and crocus-colored gown,
Her hazel eyes and snooded locks of brown,
And cheek like a white rose the sun has darkened,
Her mauve-lined scarf and crocus-colored gown,
I saw them both turn pale. They watched each other
With furtive eyes, though not a word they said—
They made me drink a glass of cherry cordial
And eat a cooky ere I went to bed.
With furtive eyes, though not a word they said—
They made me drink a glass of cherry cordial
And eat a cooky ere I went to bed.
My playmate did not come again. But only
After long years had passed with joy and teen,
I understood at last why I must never,
No, never tell Grandfather what I'd seen.
After long years had passed with joy and teen,
I understood at last why I must never,
No, never tell Grandfather what I'd seen.
MUSSEL-PEARLS
These frail, exquisite things, these changelings from the deep,
My captives—at my will
They lie, so pure, so still
As trembling on the misty verge of sleep
See how the tender dream-light comes and goes
Lilac and silver, orange, palest rose
So delicate that did the sweet
Faint odors that arise
From iris or moonflower to our eyes
Take cloudy shape and fleet
They might resemble these. Yet on them lies
A shadow haunting, strange
My captives—at my will
They lie, so pure, so still
As trembling on the misty verge of sleep
See how the tender dream-light comes and goes
Lilac and silver, orange, palest rose
So delicate that did the sweet
Faint odors that arise
From iris or moonflower to our eyes
Take cloudy shape and fleet
They might resemble these. Yet on them lies
A shadow haunting, strange
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