 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
THE UNWISE CHOICE.
Two young men, when I was poor,
Came and stood at my open door;
Came and stood at my open door;
One said to me, “I have gold to give;”
And one, “I will love you while I live!”
And one, “I will love you while I live!”
My sight was dazzled; woe 's the day!
And I sent the poor young man away;
And I sent the poor young man away;
Sent him away, I know not where,
And my heart went with him, unaware.
And my heart went with him, unaware.
He did not give me any sighs,
But he left his picture in my eyes;
But he left his picture in my eyes;
And in my eyes it has always been:
I have no heart to keep it in!
I have no heart to keep it in!
Beside the lane with hedges sweet,
Where we parted, never more to meet,
Where we parted, never more to meet,
He pulled a flower of love's own hue,
And where it had been came out two!
And where it had been came out two!
And in th' grass where he stood, for years,
The dews of th' morning looked like tears.
The dews of th' morning looked like tears.
Still smiles the house where I was born
Among its fields of wheat and corn.
Among its fields of wheat and corn.
Wheat and corn that strangers bind,—
I reap as I sowed, and I sowed to th' wind.
I reap as I sowed, and I sowed to th' wind.
As one who feels the truth break through
His dream, and knows his dream untrue,
His dream, and knows his dream untrue,
I live where splendors shine, and sigh,
For the peace that splendor cannot buy;
For the peace that splendor cannot buy;
Sigh for the day I was rich tho' poor,
And saw th' two young men at my door!
And saw th' two young men at my door!
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |