 | Irish Poems |  |
83
MENACE
I came into your room and spoke.
Sudden I knew you were not there.
The easy, common sentence broke
Against the unanswering air.
Sudden I knew you were not there.
The easy, common sentence broke
Against the unanswering air.
My heart shook like a frightened bird,
And to my ear the terror said,
Where nothing spoke and nothing stirred,
Dear God, if he were dead!
And to my ear the terror said,
Where nothing spoke and nothing stirred,
Dear God, if he were dead!
I heard your footstep in the house,
Your voice brought comfort to my fear.
But, fluttering like a frightened mouse,
My heart beat at my ear.
Your voice brought comfort to my fear.
But, fluttering like a frightened mouse,
My heart beat at my ear.
The room wore its familiar face;
On the warm hearth spirted the flame.
Yet—menace of an empty place—
Lord, if he never came!
On the warm hearth spirted the flame.
Yet—menace of an empty place—
Lord, if he never came!
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