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The heir of Rookwood.
Of lilies, ferns, and dripping water weeds
For her brown hair. Yet to my side she stole,
If seated near the lilied pool I read
Romance or poem, and when winter nights
Drew us around the hearth, she came to plead
For wilder fables, listening at my feet,
With ear attentive and chained lips, until
Her blue eyes with excess of terror grew
Darker, like fair lakes frozen. If she played,
The crags were royal palaces, her doll
A captive princess, and herself a knight
Who, armed with spear and shield, came to the rescue.
For her brown hair. Yet to my side she stole,
If seated near the lilied pool I read
Romance or poem, and when winter nights
Drew us around the hearth, she came to plead
For wilder fables, listening at my feet,
With ear attentive and chained lips, until
Her blue eyes with excess of terror grew
Darker, like fair lakes frozen. If she played,
The crags were royal palaces, her doll
A captive princess, and herself a knight
Who, armed with spear and shield, came to the rescue.
She was a child still when my sister Maud
Passed from our halls, a willing bride, with love
Ruffling her inborn calmness just so much
As a dove, drinking at a marble fount,
Troubles the water. Marian followed soon,
And Ernestine, left lonely, to my side,
Stole for companionship.
We three together
Would wander through the woodlands, till the path
Passed from our halls, a willing bride, with love
Ruffling her inborn calmness just so much
As a dove, drinking at a marble fount,
Troubles the water. Marian followed soon,
And Ernestine, left lonely, to my side,
Stole for companionship.
We three together
Would wander through the woodlands, till the path
