Childhood Friends
When he jumped down one evening with clattering sword
To the doorstep of home from the robes of his sledge,
He saw by the lantern's light that poured
On her as she stood by the privet hedge
Amid full-grown sisters, that on her face
The claws of time had been digging their trace.
To the doorstep of home from the robes of his sledge,
He saw by the lantern's light that poured
On her as she stood by the privet hedge
Amid full-grown sisters, that on her face
The claws of time had been digging their trace.
He looked and he looked, as sad and still
As is a cloudless October morn,
When you note how on floor and window-sill
The lilac-tree shadow is faint and forlorn,
A thin net of cords and knots, though bright
The sun on the pane is shedding his light.
He clasped her as hard as in time of wreck
Two drunkards in terror embrace on the deck,
For she was still the one love of his heart.
As, when children, they turned with a frightened start
On the bridge by the cliff and listened long
To the water's subterranean surge.
They heard now afar the threatening song
Of coming fate's inescapable urge.
As is a cloudless October morn,
When you note how on floor and window-sill
The lilac-tree shadow is faint and forlorn,
A thin net of cords and knots, though bright
The sun on the pane is shedding his light.
He clasped her as hard as in time of wreck
Two drunkards in terror embrace on the deck,
For she was still the one love of his heart.
As, when children, they turned with a frightened start
On the bridge by the cliff and listened long
To the water's subterranean surge.
They heard now afar the threatening song
Of coming fate's inescapable urge.
The holy wedding-day soon approached,
When spiggots were hammered and casks were broached.
The hop-wine into the pitchers had raced,
The birches along the corridor placed
When spiggots were hammered and casks were broached.
The hop-wine into the pitchers had raced,
The birches along the corridor placed
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