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A quiet man with a quiet strength,
And over the threshold his shadow's length
And over the threshold his shadow's length
Lay like an answer for Time to weigh;
And the dust from his feet spread thick and gray.
And the dust from his feet spread thick and gray.
And I thought: Well shaken! Let friend or foe
Sweep up the dust an it please them so;
Sweep up the dust an it please them so;
Let Lord and Valet tend to the room;
Lady, and House-maid, here with the broom!
Lady, and House-maid, here with the broom!
Bid Town and Tattle see to it too
That the windows be washed of the mud they threw.
That the windows be washed of the mud they threw.
Dust and ashes of what has been!
Sweep the clean house. And keep it clean.
Sweep the clean house. And keep it clean.
VIII
I thought to curse—but strange, a prayer
Rose to my lips as I stood there.
Rose to my lips as I stood there.
And this my praying: Now all good cheer
To him who sleeps where slept my dear,
For the sake of the good dreams once dreamed here.
To him who sleeps where slept my dear,
For the sake of the good dreams once dreamed here.
IX
Back to the stair and down I sped,
Passing a loud room table-spread;
Passing a loud room table-spread;
Passing, but pausing, as house-wives do,
Judging the viands that came to view;
Judging the viands that came to view;
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