Two Sisters
Dear banished Childhood! now to us
You seem a rarer thing
Than aught of good or glorious
The coming years can bring.
Take back these older selves again!
Bring Mab and Nannie in the lane
Playing at queen and king!
For you were Louis, Mabel, then.
And I was Antoinette.
You, tall and strong, a king of men;
I, less ; but don't forget
I always showed at hint of fear
γυναικός άνδρόβουλον κήρ,
When your eyes would be wet!
Do you remember how we left
The shelter of the shed.
Our foes upon us right and left.
And tow'rds the duck-pond fled ?
You shrank. "Fly, Louis!" I cried, "for best
Is honour!" … Green waves heard the rest
Gurgling above my head.
But you were first at climbing trees.
At vaulting o'er the gate,
And you were not afraid of bees.
You rode the pony straight.
And once you took the fence, and then,
Laughing, you leapt it back again;
An Amazon of eight!
And you were kinder too than I,
For often when we played.
My taste for tears and tragedy
Would make your soul afraid.
Your pirates never felt the lash.
Your blackamoors would always wash
As white as any maid.
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