Two Sisters
(birthday verses)
And must I welcome in the day,
Mabel, that wrongs us two—
That takes your childish years away
And buries mine anew?
The churlish day! I would not give
A quatrain to it, as I live,
But that it gave us you.
Wherefore, O day, I will forget
As best I can the wrong,
And strive in verses neatly set.
Smooth lines and ordered song,
To sing (as truly as who sings
The praise of other ruling kings)
A welcome loud and long.
But first of all be deaf a space
While I call back (in vain)
The presence and the dearer face
Of her whose closing reign
You triumph over. Ah, farewell
Dear Childhood! Listen, while I tell
Your beauties once again.
73
