 | Later Poems |  |
23
The Lady of Comfort
“Fair damsel, thou hast been called the Lady of Comfort, because
everyone who enters thy presence sorrowful returns contented and
happy.”—
Gesta Romanorum, lxiii.
She was my friend of many years,
Glad for my joy, sad for my tears;
Glad for my joy, sad for my tears;
And unto many as unto me
She gave the grace of her sympathy.
She gave the grace of her sympathy.
All our griefs and our joys she knew,
Suffering and rejoicing too.
Suffering and rejoicing too.
Hers to give and ours to take;
Tacit covenant naught should break.
Tacit covenant naught should break.
None of us ever guessed or thought
Our Lady of Comfort needed aught;
Our Lady of Comfort needed aught;
For as for her, her soul was fed
From the very source of life, we said.
From the very source of life, we said.
Before that lovely presence of hers
Our souls undid their barriers;
Our souls undid their barriers;
And the stonework of reserve fell low,
Even as the walls of Jericho,
Even as the walls of Jericho,
24
When seven times seven the ark had gone
Around, and the trumpets' blast was blown.
Around, and the trumpets' blast was blown.
But we never thought that she could swerve
From her gracious calm and sweet reserve;
From her gracious calm and sweet reserve;
She who walked with a stately mien,
Over herself and her world a queen.
Over herself and her world a queen.
But once this woman let me see
The quivering heart of her agony.
The quivering heart of her agony.
She laid her head upon my knees,
And spake in words like unto these:
And spake in words like unto these:
“Let me weep for a little while;
Me who so long have worn a smile!
Me who so long have worn a smile!
“Let me sob for my broken joy,
As a little child for its broken toy.
As a little child for its broken toy.
“I have laughed with friends and cheered their way:—
Oh, let me weep for myself to-day!
Oh, let me weep for myself to-day!
“I have not suffered mine heart's distress
Upon the heart of the world to press.
Upon the heart of the world to press.
“I have taught my lips to be bravely dumb
About the gone that no more may come.
About the gone that no more may come.
“But to-day the big tears blind mine eyes;
I have but played at being wise.
I have but played at being wise.
“To-day my sobs are deep and long;
I have but played at being strong.
I have but played at being strong.
25
“God, give me mine own, own drink and food!
I have but played at being good.”
I have but played at being good.”
Strong and calm through good and ill,
I had thought her before, and I think her still;
I had thought her before, and I think her still;
None the less great because I saw
The tears that awed as a man's might awe;
The tears that awed as a man's might awe;
And heard her low full voice sustain
A weight that was heavier than pain.
A weight that was heavier than pain.
And I was just as I used to be;
Except that now I had learned to see.
Except that now I had learned to see.
So there was never fear nor pride
Betwixt us twain till the day she died.
Betwixt us twain till the day she died.
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