Helen of Troy and Other Poems Part 7

Union Square

With the man I love who loves me not, I walked in the street-lamps' flare; We watched the world go home that night In a flood through Union Square.

I leaned to catch the words he said That were light as a snowflake falling; Ah well that he never leaned to hear The words my heart was calling.

And on we walked and on we walked Past the fiery lights of the picture shows-- Where the girls with thirsty eyes go by On the errand each man knows.

And on we walked and on we walked, At the door at last we said good-bye; I knew by his smile he had not heard My heart's unuttered cry.

With the man I love who loves me not I walked in the street-lamps' flare-- But oh, the girls who can ask for love In the lights of Union Square.

Central Park at Dusk

Buildings above the leafless trees Loom high as castles in a dream, While one by one the lamps come out To thread the twilight with a gleam.

There is no sign of leaf or bud, A hush is over everything-- Silent as women wait for love, The world is waiting for the spring.

Young Love

I

I cannot heed the words they say, The lights grow far away and dim, Amid the laughing men and maids My eyes unbidden seek for him.

I hope that when he smiles at me He does not guess my joy and pain, For if he did, he is too kind To ever look my way again.

II

I have a secret in my heart No ears have ever heard, And still it sings there day by day Most like a caged bird.

And when it beats against the bars, I do not set it free, For I am happier to know It only sings for me.

III

I wrote his name along the beach, I love the letters so.

Far up it seemed and out of reach, For still the tide was low.

But oh, the sea came creeping up, And washed the name away, And on the sand where it had been A bit of sea-gra.s.s lay.

A bit of sea-gra.s.s on the sand, Dropped from a mermaid's hair-- Ah, had she come to kiss his name And leave a token there?

IV

What am I that he should love me, He who stands so far above me, What am I?

I am like a cowslip turning Toward the sky, Where a planet's golden burning Breaks the cowslip's heart with yearning, What am I that he should love me, What am I?

V

O dreams that flock about my sleep, I pray you bring my love to me, And let me think I hear his voice Again ring free.

And if you care to please me well, And live to-morrow in my mind, Let him who was so cold before, To-night seem kind.

VI

I plucked a daisy in the fields, And there beneath the sun I let its silver petals fall One after one.

I said, "He loves me, loves me not,"

And oh, my heart beat fast, The flower was kind, it let me say "He loves me," last.

I kissed the little leafless stem, But oh, my poor heart knew The words the flower had said to me, They were not true.

VII

I sent my love a letter, And if he loves me not, He shall not find my love for him In any line or dot.

But if he loves me truly, He'll find it hidden deep, As dawn gleams red thro' chilly clouds To eyes awaked from sleep.

VIII

The world is cold and gray and wet, And I am heavy-hearted, yet When I am home and look to see The place my letters wait for me, If I should find ONE letter there, I think I should not greatly care If it were rainy or were fair, For all the world would suddenly Seem like a festival to me.

IX

I hid three words within my heart, That longed to fly to him, At dawn they woke me with a start, They sang till day was dim.

And now at last I let them fly, As little birds should do, And he will know the first is "I", The others "Love" and "You".

X

Across the twilight's violet His curtained window glimmers gold; Oh happy light that round my love Can fold.