 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
HOW PEACE CAME.
As the still hours toward midnight wore,
She called to me—her voice was low
And soft as snow that falls in snow—
She called my name, and nothing more.
She called to me—her voice was low
And soft as snow that falls in snow—
She called my name, and nothing more.
Sleeping, I felt the life-blood stir
With piercing anguish all my heart—
I felt my dreams like curtains part,
And straightway passed through them to her.
With piercing anguish all my heart—
I felt my dreams like curtains part,
And straightway passed through them to her.
Yet, 'twixt my answer and her call,
My thoughts had time enough to run
Through everything that I had done
From my youth upward. One and all.
My thoughts had time enough to run
Through everything that I had done
From my youth upward. One and all.
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The harmful words which I had said—
The sinful thoughts, the looks untrue,
Straight into fearful phantoms grew,
And ranged themselves about her bed.
The sinful thoughts, the looks untrue,
Straight into fearful phantoms grew,
And ranged themselves about her bed.
Weeping, I called her names most sweet,
But still the phantoms, evil-eyed,
Between us stood, and though I died,
I could not even touch her feet.
But still the phantoms, evil-eyed,
Between us stood, and though I died,
I could not even touch her feet.
My soul within me seemed to groan—
My cheek was burning up with shame—
I called each dark deed by its name,
And humbly owned it for my own.
My cheek was burning up with shame—
I called each dark deed by its name,
And humbly owned it for my own.
My tongue was loosed—my heart was free—
I took the little shining head
Betwixt my palms—the phantoms fled.
And Heaven was moved, and came to me.
I took the little shining head
Betwixt my palms—the phantoms fled.
And Heaven was moved, and came to me.
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |