Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/138

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Hand in hand, but grew the while
Bolder in her gentle smile;
When she kissed them they were free,
Joyous as at mother's knee.
"Tell me, darlings, now," said she,
"What they want to say to me."
Boy and girl then, nothing loth,
Sometimes one and sometimes both,
Prattled to her sitting there
Fondling with their soft young hair:
"Dear kind lady, do you stay
Here with always holiday?
Do you sleep among the trees?
People want you, if you please,
To put on your dress and come
With us to the City home;
Live with us and be our friend:
Oh, such pleasant times we'll spend!. . .
But if you can't come away,
Will you let us stop and play
With you and all these happy things
With hair and horns and shining wings?"


She arose and went half down,
Took the vestal sister's gown,