Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Thebridegroomstartedoutofadream：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Hewenttothedoor，andthereespied：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Thefigureofhissilentbride：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Hewenttothedoor，andletherin：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Whiterlookedshethanachildofsin：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Shelookedsowhite，shelookedsosweet：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Shelookedsopurehefellatherfeet：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Hefellatherfeetwithloveandawe：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Astainlessbodyoflighthesaw：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
OMargaret，sayyouarenotofthedead!
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Mybride!bytheangelsatnightareyouled？
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Iamnotledbytheangelsabout：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
ButIhaveadelwithintoletout：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
OMargaret!mybrideandsaint!
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Thereisonyounoearthlytaint：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Iamnosaint，andnobridecanIbe：
Redroseandwhileinthegarden；
UntilIhaveopenedmybosomtothee：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Tocatchatherheartshelaidonehand：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Shetoldthetalewhereshedidstand：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Shestoodbeforehimpaleandtall：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Hereyesbetweenhis，shetoldhimall：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Shesawhowherbodygrowfreckledandfoul：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Sheheardfromthewoodsthehootingowl：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Withneveraquerhermouthdidspeak：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Owhenshehaddoneshestoodsomeek!
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Thebridegroomstampedandcalledherle：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Hedidbutwakenalittlesmile：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Thebridegroomragedandcalledherfoul：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Sheheardfromthewoodsthehootingowl：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Hemutteredanamefullbitterandsore：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Shefellinalumponthestilldeadfloor：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Ogreatwasthewonder，andloudthewail：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Whenthroughthehouseholdflewthetale：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Theoldgreymothershedressedthebier：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Withasheringchinandneveratear：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
OhadyoubutdoneasIbadeyou，mychild!
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Youwouldnothavediedandbeenreled：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Thebridegroomhehungatmidnightbythebier：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
Heeyedthewhitegirlthro’adazzlingtear：
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Ohadyoubeenfalseasthewomenwhostray：
Redroseandwhiteinthegarden；
YouwouldnotbenowwiththeAngelsofDay!
Andthebirdsingsovertheroses。
Shecanbeaswiseaswe，Andwiserwhenshewishes；
Shecanknitwithcunningwit，Anddressthehomelydishes。
Shecanflourishstafforpen，Anddealawoundthatlingers；
Shecantalkthetalkofmen，Andtouchwiththrillingfingers。
Matchheryeacrossthesea，Naturesfondandfiery；
Yewhozesttheturtle’snestWiththeeagle’seyrie。
Softandlongishersoul，Swiftandloftysoaring；
Mingwithitsdove-likedolePassionateadoring。
Suchashewho’llmatchwithme？
Inflyingorpursuing，SubtlewilesareinhersmilesTosettheworlda-wooing。
Sheissteadfastasastar，Andyetthemaddestmaiden：
Shecanwageagallantwar，AndgethepeaceofEden。
BYMORNINGTWILIGHT
Night，likeadyingmother，Eyesheryoungoffspring，Day。
Thebirdsaredreamilypiping。
AndO，mylove，mydarling!
Thenightislifeebb’daway：
Awaybeyondourreach!
Aseathathascastuspaleonthebeach；
WeedswiththeweedsandthepebblesThathearthelonetamariskrootedinsandSwayWiththesongoftheseatotheland。
ThoughIamfaithfultomylovesledthrough，AndplacethemamongMemory’sgreatstars，WhereburnsafacelikeHesper：onelikeMars：
OfsagesIgetamoment’sew，Sweeteyesthatintheheavenofme，too，Ascend，tho’rgintomylifetheypassed。
Lo，thesewithinmydestinyseemglassedAttimessobright，IwishthatHopewerenew。
Agraciousfreckledlady，tallandgrave，Went，inashawlvoluminousandwhite，Lastsunsetby；andgoingsow’daglance。
Earthistoopoortoholdasecondchance；
IwillnotaskformorethanFortunegave：
Myheartshegoesfrom——neverfrommysight!
Omylover!thenightlikeabroadsmoothwaveBearsusonward，andmorn，ablackrock，shineswet。
HowIshuddered——IknewnotthatIwasaslave，TillIlookedonthyface：-thenIwrithedinthenet。
ThenIfeltlikeathingcaughtbyfire，thatherstarGloweddarkonthebosomofShemselnihar。
Andhecame，whoseIam：Omylover!hecame：
Andhisslave，stillsoenedofwomen，wasI：
AndIturnedasahissingleafspitsfromtheflame，Yes，Ishrelledtodustfromhim，haggardanddry。
Oforgeher：-shewasbutasdeadliliesare：
ThelifeofherheartfledfromShemselnihar。
YetwiththeelikeafullthrobbingrosehowIbloom!
Likearosebythefountainwhoseshoweringwehear，Aswelie，Omylover!inthisrichgloom，Smellingfaintthecoolbreathofthelemon-grovesnear。
Asweliegazingoutonthatglowinggreatstar-
Ah!darkonthebosomofShemselnihar。
YetwiththeeamInotasanarmofthene，Firmtobindthee，tocherishthee，feedtheesweet？
SwearanoathonmyliptoletnonedisentwineThelifethatherefawnstogewarmthtothyfeet。
Ionthine，thus!nomoreshallthatjewelledHeadjarThemusicthoubreathestonShemselnihar。
Faraway，faraway，wherethewanderingscentsOfallflowersaresweetest，whitemountainsamong，Theremykindredabideintheirgreenandbluetents：
Bearmetothem，mylover!theylostmesoyoung。
LetusslipdownthestreamandleapsteedtillafarNonequestionthyclaimuponShemselnihar。
Othatlongnotethebulbulgaveout——meaninglove!
Omylover，harktohimandthinkitmyvoice!
Thebluenightlikeagreatbell-flowerfromaboveDroopinglowandgold-eyed：O，buthearhimrejoice!
Canitbe？’twasaflash!thataccurstscimiterInthoughtevencutstheefromShemselnihar。
Yes，Iwouldthat，lessgenerous，hewouldoppress，Hewouldchainme，upbraidme，burndeepbrandsforhate，ThanwiththismaskoffreedomandgorgeousnessBespanglemyslavery，mockmystrangefate。
Would，would，would，Omylover，heknew——dareddebarThycoming，andearncurseofShemselnihar!
Aroarthro’thetalltwinelm-treesThemusteringstormbetrayed：
TheSouth-windseizedthewillowThatoverthewaterswayed。
ThenfellthesteadydelugeInwhichIstrovetodoze，HearingallnightatmywindowTheknockofthewinterrose。
Therainyroseofwinter!
Anoutcastitmustpine。
AndfromthybosomoutcastAmI，dearladymine。
WhenIwouldimageherfeatures，Comesupashroudedhead：
Itouchtheoutlines，shrinking；
Sheseemsofthewanderingdead。
Butwhenloveasksfornothing，Andliesonhisbedofsnow，Thefaceslipsundermyeyelids，Allinitslingglow。
Likeadarkcathedralcity，Whosespires，anddomes，andtowersQuerinoletlightnings，Mysoulbasksonforhours。
THESPIRITOFSHAKESPEARE
Thygreatestknewthee，MotherEarth；unsouredHeknewthysons。HeprobedfromhelltohellOfhumanpassions，butoflovedefloweredHiswisdomwasnot，forheknewtheewell。
Thencecamethehoneyedcornerathislips，TheconqueringsmilewhereinhisspiritsailsCalmastheGodwhothewhitesea-wavewhips，Yetfullofspeechandintershiftingtales，Closemirrorsofus：thencehadhethelaughWefeelisthine：broadastenthousandbeevesAtpasture!thencethysongs，thatwinnowchaffFromgrain，bidsickPhilosophy’slastleavesWhirl，iftheyhavenoresponse——theyenforcedTofattenEarthwhenfromhersouldorced。
HowsmilesheatagenerationrankedIngloomynoddingsoverlife!Theypass。
Nothetofeeduponabreastunthanked，Oreyeabeauteousfaceinacrackedglass。
ButhecanspythatlittletwistofbrainWhichmovedsomeweightyleaderoftheblind，Unwitting’twasthegoadofpersonalpain，ToewincursteclipseourMother’smind，AndshowusofsomerigidharridanThewretchedbondmentilltheendoftime。
OledtheMasternowtopaintusMan，ThatlittletwistofbrainwouldringachimeOfwhenceitcameandwhatitcaused，tostartThundersoflaughter，clearingairandheart。
FairMotherEarthlayonherbacklastnight，TogazeherfillonAutumn’ssunsetskies，WhenatawangofthefallenlightSprangrealmsofrosyfruitageo’erhereyes。
AlustrousheavenlyorchardhungtheWest，WhereinthebloodofEdenbloomedagain：