Poems (Clark)/Jewels
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JEWELS
"Her robings were lace and satin
Of rare and costly make,
Whose shimmering folds were as beautiful dreams,
From which wealth untold might wake.
Pearls nestled on forehead and bosom,
In settings of rich device,--
And they whispered her caskets were filled and replete
With diamonds of fabulous price.
Of rare and costly make,
Whose shimmering folds were as beautiful dreams,
From which wealth untold might wake.
Pearls nestled on forehead and bosom,
In settings of rich device,--
And they whispered her caskets were filled and replete
With diamonds of fabulous price.
"And amid these fair surroundings,
She stood as a lily pale;
While the few short words she uttered
Were sad as a funeral wail.
Her eyes had a look as if burdened
With the weight of unshed tears,
And the pallor that rested on cheek and lip
Told a story of doubts and fears."
She stood as a lily pale;
While the few short words she uttered
Were sad as a funeral wail.
Her eyes had a look as if burdened
With the weight of unshed tears,
And the pallor that rested on cheek and lip
Told a story of doubts and fears."
Thus I read, in the letter sent me,
From over the ocean wave;
And 'twas added, "This marriage altar
Seemed more like an open grave.
For the vows which were that day uttered,
Laid in death all the hopes of her youth,
And the ring that enclasped her future
Lacked the pearl of Love's own truth."
From over the ocean wave;
And 'twas added, "This marriage altar
Seemed more like an open grave.
For the vows which were that day uttered,
Laid in death all the hopes of her youth,
And the ring that enclasped her future
Lacked the pearl of Love's own truth."
I was grieved in my soul, and I questioned,
Why it is that hearts are so weak?
Why it is that diamonds can silence
The words true affection would speak?
And I said, as I thought of his falsehood,
And her lack of womanly trust,
"Let them rest with the past, I would not exchange
Loving hearts for such glittering dust."
Why it is that hearts are so weak?
Why it is that diamonds can silence
The words true affection would speak?
And I said, as I thought of his falsehood,
And her lack of womanly trust,
"Let them rest with the past, I would not exchange
Loving hearts for such glittering dust."
And I heard as I laid down my letter,
Little voices just outside my door,—
Little feet, whose footfalls made music,
Pattering constantly over the floor;
And a sound of whispered rejoicing
Met my ear as I lifted the latch,
Merging into such glad spoken tidings,
Wealth in words that no diamonds can match.
Little voices just outside my door,—
Little feet, whose footfalls made music,
Pattering constantly over the floor;
And a sound of whispered rejoicing
Met my ear as I lifted the latch,
Merging into such glad spoken tidings,
Wealth in words that no diamonds can match.
So down where the lamps were lighted,
And the table was spread for tea,—
Leaving all my regrets behind me,
For the falsehood over the sea,—
I went with my darling companions,
Joining them in their settled belief
That the baby's new teeth are the veriest pearls,
Of worth completest and chief.
And the table was spread for tea,—
Leaving all my regrets behind me,
For the falsehood over the sea,—
I went with my darling companions,
Joining them in their settled belief
That the baby's new teeth are the veriest pearls,
Of worth completest and chief.
Two pearls in a setting of rubies,—
The darlingest bud of a mouth,—
Worth more than the mines of Golconda,
Or the gem-laden waves of the South.
Thus the falsehood that might have brought anguish,
The friendship now proved but as naught,
Were but foils, making fairer by contrast,
Common things by affection inwrought.
The darlingest bud of a mouth,—
Worth more than the mines of Golconda,
Or the gem-laden waves of the South.
Thus the falsehood that might have brought anguish,
The friendship now proved but as naught,
Were but foils, making fairer by contrast,
Common things by affection inwrought.